Where There’s Smoke, There’s Kindness

At least, it’s true for firefighters in Portland, Maine. After learning that the Portland Fire Department (PFD) was looking for help in equipping all fire stations with oxygen masks for animals, PETA has donated six masks, in various sizes, to assist with the effort. All too often, first responders have had to treat animals suffering from smoke inhalation with poorly fitting oxygen masks designed for humans—so cheers to the good folks of the PFD for making sure that they’re ready to help everyone who is endangered by fires.

They say, “As Maine goes, so goes the nation,” so let’s hope that more fire departments will soon follow in Portland’s compassionate footsteps—maybe you could even make the suggestion at your local fire station. And let’s also hope that more of us who share our homes with animal companions will take this as a cue to include them in our emergency plans by posting a notice on the doors of our homes about how many animals are inside in case of fire.

Written by Jeff Mackey