Area pet owners can breathe a little easier knowing that a few more fire stations have been equipped with special oxygen masks designed to save the lives of animals.

Earlier this week, the Invisible Fence Company of Southwest Michigan donated several pet oxygen masks free of charge to first responders at the Niles Township and Howard Township

fire departments.

“It allows us to hook it up and give oxygen to an animal just like you would to a human being,” said Chief Gary Brovold, of Niles Township Fire Department. “We are grateful for the donation.”

The pet oxygen masks, which come in different sizes, feature a cone-shaped design that fits around the mouth and nose of most animals.

These masks will allow firefighters to give oxygen to pets who are suffering from smoke inhalation when they are rescued from fires.

In August of 2012, the Niles City Fire Department used a similar style of pet oxygen mask to revive an unresponsive dog pulled from a house fire in the 500 block of South Lincoln Ave.

Brovold said Niles Township responds to about a half dozen fires a year that could make use of the pet oxygen masks.

“Whenever we have a fire we do our best to rescue any pets we can after we know everyone is out of the residence,” Brovold said. “We have had some luck in the past, but with the new masks that are designed for pets, our chances will be better on a viable pet.”

The donation is part of Invisible Fence’s Project Breathe program, which was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in American and Canada with pet oxygen masks. A total of more than 11,500 have been donated to fire stations all over the U.S. and Canada throughout the life of the program.

“When a family suffers the tragedy of a fire, lives are turned upside down,” said Ed Hoyt, director of Invisible Fence. “Pets are valued family members, so we want families to know that their pet can be cared for if tragedy strikes.”

Representatives from Invisible Fence delivered the pet oxygen masks to Niles Township Fire Tuesday and demonstrated how to use the new equipment.