WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah -- Local firefighters are adding more lifesaving equipment to their fire trucks. But it's not meant for you-- it's for your pets.
They are pet rescue kits.
A West Valley City firefighter, Tyson Swayt was trying to find a special project to become a senior firefighter and he saw a need to help pets during fires.
He called several local animal hospitals to see what kind of equipment they would need to help them breathe after smoke inhalation.
A Cottonwood Animal Hospital veterinarian stepped up. Dr. Nathan Cox donated five pet rescue kits. Each kit includes two different sized pet oxygen masks.
“We have animals and my kids would be devastated if something happened to them,” said firefighter Tyson Swayt. “The idea originally came when we were on a few house fires earlier in the summer and there were animals involved. So it got me thinking what can we do to increase the chance of animals surviving.”
Five pet rescue kits were donated to the West Valley City Fire Department.
Each one cost around $200.
