By Jay King
HOMETOWN NEWS

Tyger River Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Harter demonstrates the use of a new pet oxygen mask donated to his department by Invisible Fence of the Upstate. The company has a nationwide program to donate specially designed masks to emergency responders in order to help save the lives of the estimated 500,000 pets affected by home fires each year.
The local Invisible Fence franchise donated last week a pair of pet oxygen masks to the Tyger River Fire Department to help revive cats and dogs who’ve fallen victim to smoke inhalation during a fire.
Tyger River Chief Jim Redd said that there have been several occasions where the department could have used the specially designed masks to revive pets.
“We’ve had numerous occasions where this would have made the difference,” Redd said during a small presentation ceremony at the department’s Locust Street main station in Lyman last Wednesday.
Mark Bondy of Invisible Fence of the Upstate said this is the second donation of such equipment in the Upstate for the nationwide program that has given pet oxygen masks to first responders for the past three years.“We’re just glad to do it,” Bondy said. “It’s a good fit for us. Our whole mission is to keep pets safe at home.”
Bondy brought Kayla, a 10-year-old yellow lab used as a therapy dog, to demonstrate how the masks are used last Wednesday. The specially designed mask fits over the muzzle of cats and dogs and thus achieves a tight seal not possible with masks designed for people.
According to a press release from Invisible Fence, unofficial estimates put the number of pets who die in fires each year nationwide at between 40,000-150,000, most succumbing to smoke inhalation. It is further estimated that 500,000 pets are affected each year by home fires and that most emergency responders across the country are not equipped to deal with the needs of pets.
Bondy said his company is excited by the prospect of helping local first responders obtain the type of equipment that can save pets’ lives and looks forward to donating more masks to other local departments who apply for the equipment.
Department’s interested in applying for an equipment donation from Invisible Fence should contact Donation Coordinator Lisa Swayne Proud at (404) 229-2292 or via email at lisa.swayneproud@ifsouth.com.
For more local news and events, see this week’s Middle Tyger Times.