The Salem News
By Cate Lecuyer
staff writer

BEVERLY — People will always come first, but when disaster strikes, pets run a very close second.

Now, the Beverly and Salem fire departments will be equipped with oxygen masks for cats and dogs, thanks to a $1,500 donation from a Beverly Rotary Club holiday fundraiser.

Each of the five firetrucks in Beverly and the six in Salem will have on board a small, medium and large oxygen mask specifically designed to help animals — from search dogs on the scene to a kitten pulled from a fire.

“One of the simplest yet most effective things you can do is give them oxygen,” said Lori Gordon, a veterinarian for FEMA Urban Search and Rescue. “If you can provide them with oxygen, you may be able to get to a vet.”

She demonstrated the device on Coriander, her shepherd mix, during yesterday’s Rotary meeting at the Danversport Yacht Club.

“It used to be it was very looked down upon to do anything for animals,” she said. “It was humans only. That has changed.”

When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, it was a turning point, Gordon said.

“Some people wouldn’t leave their animals and died there,” she said. Since then, those involved in rescue and disaster relief efforts have paid more attention to pets, and Gordon is no exception.

“Anything I can do to promote helping animals, I say ‘absolutely,’” she said. Gordon helped secure the sets of oxygen masks from VetAmerica and agreed to give both fire departments free training in the masks’ use and how to perform CPR on pets.”

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