Burlingame Fire Department, which in December was first to get the masks, already put the new technology to use when it saved an unconscious Chihuahua at a recent fire.
The Peninsula Humane Society raised more than $3,000 in public donations this year to buy pet oxygen mask kits for county fire departments and is in the process of handing them out to those still without.
The San Mateo Fire Department received its kit Tuesday at a City Council meeting.
The kits, priced at $200 a set, come with masks in four sizes and are compatible with oxygen equipment used on humans. Before the new technology, firefighters trying to resuscitate a dog or cat suffering from smoke inhalation had to seal the animal's mouth and snout and perform rescue breathing the old-fashioned way.
The Humane Society and the Burlingame Fire Department were among the first groups in the country to obtain pet oxygen masks, winning attention in trade magazines for firefighters and pet enthusiasts.
The fact that all the masks have been purchased does not put an end to PHS's partnership with local public safety agencies, however.
PHS President Ken White says PHS staff are currently studying the need for bulletproof vests for San Mateo County police K-9s and rescue dogs.
Some agencies already have the vests, but many do not. White says the vests cost between $600 and $900, so if there's a great need countywide, PHS many wait for the economy to recover before it attempts to raise money to buy them.
Staff writer Malaika Fraley covers San Mateo. She can be reached at 348-4337 or by e-mail at
