Cat revived, thanks to area fire fighters

A Toledo apartment is in ruins after a weekend fire, but building residents say the story could have been worse. They all made it out of the building safely, including two cats. Those pets owe their lives to Toledo firefighters and some new life-saving technology.

Both Hyphen and Fat Cat are breathing easier on the steps of a west Toledo duplex now. Sunday at 3:00 a.m. they were home alone in a burning apartment.

Building resident Mark Stevens made it out of the fire just as a Toledo fire department put out the flames and began giving Fat Cat oxygen with one of the department tiny pet oxygen masks.

It was firefighters at station 25 who responded that early Sunday morning call, armed with their engine, their hoses, and a Pet O2 mask.

Lt. John Kaminski says the pet masks fit the faces of canines and cats better than masks made for humans, and they work.

Lt. Kaminski says, "We find, in our line of work, for people is that their pets are part of their family. Of course we will go great risk to save a human-being and will risk a considerable amount of effort and man power to save a member of their family such as their pet.

Hyphen and Fat Cat's family is away working as camp counselor in Germany. So her best friend and neighbors will comfort the frightened felines until she returns.

The makers of Invisible Fence donated 17 sets of pet oxygen masks to the Toledo fire department back in November. Firefighters now carry them whenever they respond to a fire call.

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