Photo courtesy of Karen Clark at HELPAnimals, Inc.
To date, Catnip and Carrots Animal Bunch has purchased thirty-five sets (three masks per set) of specialized animal respiratory O2 masks for distribution. Twenty-eight sets went to various Southern California Fire departments plus the Orange County Fire Authority and seven sets have been distributed to the Monroe Fire Department & EMS Units in Ohio. Three sets for California were received via a grant by The Cat Fanciers’ Association due to SoCals enhanced danger zones. All other California mask sets were paid for via private donations into our dedicated Wildfire Fund. We receive no government funding. More mask sets are needed to fully equip all fire trucks and EMS units in our region with the potential to save any pet, large or small, suffering from respiratory distress. Though our program started as a result of the devastating wildfires of October 2007, we have quickly learned these masks can have a wider purpose. Not only for use in wildfires, this lifesaving equipment can be used for pets affected by household fires, chemical fumes, car accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, gunshot wounds and any other cause where fresh air is needed for survival. The recent fire at the Lake Elsinore shelter, where 39 animals perished, is proof positive animal life saving equipment is warrented. Not only for use with domestic pets such as dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, hamsters, ferrets, and reptiles but this apparatus can also be used to save an important working dog, such as a Search & Rescue or K9 officer on duty with local law enforcement. These valuable animals can cost more than $200,000 because of the extensive training needed and are a major loss to a Dept. who depends on these animals for tasks ill suited or too dangerous for human officers. C&C is also researching the purchase of equine masks for the many horses annually displaced by wildfires in remote areas of Orange & San Diego Counties. As funding permits, we intend to outfit the OC Fire Authority with this equipment, as well. More information on the cost of these masks is forthcoming. With natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina or the Southern California wildfires, we are becoming more and more aware of how these tragedies affect not only us, but those of our pets. As evidenced in New Orleans, many of us are reluctant to leave a pet behind and will risk our own lives to help save them. More than a few of us consider them as children but their value to our many senior residents is even more far reaching – often times they are their only companion and offer much needed love and emotional support. With the recent passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS Act of 2006), pets have finally become recognized as an integral part of our family and are no longer considered “just animals”. Our goal is to ensure all responders throughout Southern California have this necessary equipment. With avenues that also include spay/neuter education, emergency veterinary assistance and adoption, we are working hard to make sure all pets live healthy, happy lives in loving homes. Our mask program is simply one more way to show we care. We appreciate your support! See the photos! Current Distribution:
17 sets to OCFA (Westminster, Irvine, Tustin, Sunset Beach, Cypress, Mission Viejo, & Laguna Nigel)
2 sets to Fountain Valley Fire
2 sets to Santa Ana Fire
2 sets to the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center of Orange County in HB
2 sets to Fullerton Fire
2 sets to Garden Grove Fire
1 set to Huntington Beach EMS/SWAT K9 Unit
Technical Specifications | 
