After hearing about a similar such donation in Gwinnett County last year, a Gainesville couple donated four sets of pet oxygen masks to Hall County Fire Services.
Ginger and Barry Stinson recently presented the Wag'N O2 Fur Life Kits to fire officials. The kits enable firefighters to provide oxygen and artificial respiration to pets suffering from smoke inhalation.
"The addition of these pet oxygen masks will add to our current robust response capabilities and allow us to provide immediate life saving care to animals affected by smoke inhalation," Hall County Interim Fire Chief Mark Arnold said. "Hall County Fire Services is appreciative of the Stinson's generosity with their donation."
The packs include three masks to allow for the treatment of different sized animals, according to a fire services news release.
The kits will be placed at strategic spots in the county to provide aid to pets during emergencies.
"People's pets are precious to them, their best friends in the world," Barry Stinson said. "A house fire is tragic enough, but if you lose your best pal to smoke inhalation, it's devastating."
Stinson hopes more people in the community will be inspired by the donation and purchase more of the masks for the department.
"Talk to other pet owners. You see them out walking their dogs everyday in the neighborhood," Stinson said.
With a few $10 to $15 commitments, he said folks can easily come up with the $90.00 required to purchase a kit.
The Stinsons recently moved to Gainesville and have also provided what Stinson described as, "mini grants," to help teachers buy supplies for their classrooms. As for what's next in couple's philanthropic efforts, Stinson said he likes the idea of ballistic vests for law enforcement K9 unit dogs.
