Pet Oxygen Masks Made the Difference

On Wednesday West Thurston Regional Fire Authority firefighters saved two unconscious dogs from a house fire.

The firefighters used a pet oxygen mask on both dogs. Photo from the West Thurston Fire Facebook page.

The firefighters found the dogs together in tub in the bathroom. Because the family trained both dogs to use the human bathroom, they think the dogs instinctually hid there when the fire started.

Firefighters used a pet oxygen mask on the dogs at the scene and en route to Scatter Creek Animal Clinic in Rochester where both dogs began breathing on their own and were treated for smoke inhalation.

“They have quick, smart dogs and a pet loving crew that knew exactly what to do,” said Captain Brian Christianson on the West Thurston Firefighters’ Facebook page. “We train to save people and the pets that people love.”

The firefighters reunited the dogs with their family outside the Clinic. The firefighters were “elated, a little shocked, and overwhelmed to witness the reunion.”

Invisible Fence and Project Breathe donated the pet oxygen mask the firefighters used to save the dogs. In 2015, Invisible Fence donated 20 pet oxygen masks to the Seattle Fire Department.

Great work, West Thurston firefighters! Thank you for saving Zip and Faith.

Here’s the dash cam video of the rescue. The firefighters begin bringing the dogs out of the house at the 1:25 mark.