Watch: Shropshire pet oxygen masks campaign a success
A campaign for new equipment that could save the lives of pets in Shropshire has had an overwhelming response.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will now be only the second brigade in the UK to have pet oxygen masks available for any house fire attended by firefighters.
A Telford firefighter, dog charities and pet organisations have all contributed to the campaign, launched only last month, and collected a total of 15 pet oxygen masks for use on county fire appliances.
The campaign also has the backing of a pet lover whose dog and cat both died of smoke inhalation in a house fire in Birmingham.
Ina Fuller, of St Paul's Road, Bordesley Heath, who lost Pepper, a 17-year-old cat, and Boots, a one-year-old Shi Tzu, said: "Anything that will give a pet a chance of surviving has got to be good."
In Shropshire, a charity walk was held last month by Hectors Greyhound Rescue to raise funds for a single pet oxygen mask for one fire appliance in Ellesmere and a firefighter also raised funds for the campaign.
Together they have raised enough money to buy seven pet oxygen masks while another five will be provided by pet organisations.
Martin Huckle, watch manager at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:
"It started only last month as a charity walk to raise money for one mask and it has just taken off so well.
"The masks are very useful to help revive animals suffering from smoke inhalation."
Louise Fletcher, a firefighter on Blue Watch in Telford, gave up alcohol in a sponsored Dry April to also raise money for the Smokey Paws charity which provides the oxygen therapy kits.
Happy Tails Dog Spa in Faraday Drive, Bridgnorth bought two masks for Bridgnorth and Cleobury Mortimer fire stations and Haygate Vets Centre in Wellington have bought two more.
Pets At Home is supplying four further masks.
To donate to the cause visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/oxygenmasksforpets
