(MURFREESBORO) This past Friday (3/8/2019), Invisible Fence of Middle Tennessee donated 10 bags of animal oxygen masks and supplies to be placed on Rutherford County Fire and Rescue vehicles. The firm's Project Breathe program helps first responders provide critical care to pets.

Company representatives Brian Atkison and Jeff Fox brought demonstration dog Bernie to Station 51, for a hands-on demonstration of how the masks fit a pet's nose and discussed how to resuscitate an animal regardless of size. The masks are designed to fit cats, dogs and other small pets.

As of 2016, Invisible Fence of Middle Tennessee has donated over 6,800 resuscitation kits, which have saved more than 182 pets lives from fire and smoke inhalation.

Each kit includes a small, medium and large mask along with instructions for usage, tubing and a slip lead for the animal. This equipment will be used to resuscitate and save family pets affected by a fire, or other emergency.

County Commissioner and Public Safety Chairman Pettus Read, animal lover and dog owner, initiated the effort to find the pet masks for Rutherford County Fire Rescue.

Industry sources estimate 40,000 to 150,000 pets die each year in fires. Most succumb to smoke inhalation and in most states, emergency responders lack the equipment to resuscitate and save pets. That's why Invisible Fence Brand created the Project Breathe Program - a pet oxygen mask donation program designed to provide oxygen mask kits to fire departments and other first responders. Their goal is to equip every fire department in the U.S and Canada.

Invisible Fence representatives will be returning to RCFR on March 20, 2019, when Dr. Kristen Datte from Blue Pearl Veterinary Service in Franklin will be conducting Animal CPR Training for all firefighters at Station 51.