Jessica Whitehouse – Orlando Cat Café
In recognition of National Pet Fire Safety Day, Orlando Cat Cafe will present a donation of pet oxygen masks to Lake County Fire Rescue during a special ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, at 10:00 am.
The presentation marks the ninth consecutive year Orlando Cat Cafe has donated this specialized life-saving equipment to Lake County Fire Rescue, bringing the community one step closer to its goal of equipping every fire apparatus in Lake County with reusable pet oxygen masks.
National Pet Fire Safety Day was established by the American Kennel Club and ADT Security Services to help reduce the estimated 50,000 pets affected by home fires each year. This nationwide awareness day educates pet owners about the risks of leaving pets home alone and promotes proven fire prevention measures to help keep them safe. The reusable Wag’N Pet Oxygen Mask Kits include three different-sized masks and can be used on a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and more.
“Our pets are family members, and firefighters routinely risk their own lives to rescue them during emergencies,” said Sandra Cagan, Founder and CEO of Orlando Cat Cafe. “National Pet Fire Safety Day is the perfect opportunity to recognize the incredible work of our first responders while providing them with equipment that can make the difference between life and death for a beloved pet. We are honored to continue this tradition for the ninth year.”
Lake County Fire Rescue personnel will join Orlando Cat Cafe representatives and local elected officials for the presentation, celebrating a partnership dedicated to protecting both people and animals throughout the community.
Since launching this initiative, Orlando Cat Cafe has remained committed to supporting first responders while advancing its broader mission of improving animal welfare throughout Central Florida.
“Losing a pet due to a house fire is a devastating experience. As most pet owners leave their furry companions home alone during the day, pets are left to fend for themselves in the event of a fire. Unlike humans, who instinctively flee, pets often hide, making rescue more difficult. Far too many die each year from smoke asphyxiation,” said Sandra Cagan, owner of the Orlando Cat Café. “While firefighters do their best to save pets from burning homes, they can’t always revive them without the proper equipment. That’s why pet oxygen masks are so important. These specially designed masks can be used on both conscious pets suffering from smoke inhalation and those that have lost consciousness due to toxic fumes. Our responders have in fact used these masks on pets in our community, making this annual donation very meaningful. Every year we move closer to our vision of ensuring every fire truck in Lake County carries this specialized equipment,” Cagan said. “It’s a simple investment that has the potential to save countless animal lives.”
National Pet Fire Safety Day serves as an annual reminder for pet owners to include their animals in family emergency preparedness plans, practice fire safety at home, and support first responders who respond to emergencies involving pets.
