PRESS RELEASE: Wag’N O2 Fur Life Program to Provide First Responders with Original McCulloch Medical Pet Oxygen Masks

Wag’N Pet Safety Gear announces beneficial new partnership with McCulloch Medical

Two companies are stepping out in an effort to reduce the number of pets that die each year due to smoke asphyxiation. Wag’N Pet Safety Gear and McCulloch Medical announced today a partnership formed to provide first responders throughout North America with the highest quality pet oxygen masks available.

“We continue to see an enormous need for first responders to have access to pet oxygen masks in order to resuscitate animals suffering from smoke inhalation,” said Ines de Pablo, Chief Wag’N Officer and founder of Wag’N Pet Safety Gear. “Wag’N is thrilled to be partnering with McCulloch Medical as the main distributor of pet oxygen masks to fire departments, EMS and K9 units throughout the United States and Canada.”

Having designed the original, award-winning mask in 1997, Richard McCulloch is credited with introducing pet oxygen masks to veterinarians. The specially designed masks are manufactured by McCulloch Medical in Auckland, New Zealand. The cone-shaped masks come in sets of three sizes (large, medium and small) and can be used to resuscitate dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, hamsters, alpacas, wolves and many more species.

McCulloch pet oxygen masks can be purchased directly by first responders in the U.S. and Canada at Wagn4U.com/O2FurLife, however, most municipalities don’t allow their police, fire and EMS departments to purchase equipment for non-human life support. Rescue units that cannot access funding or that have limited community support can apply for financial assistance to acquire a pet oxygen mask through the Wag'N O2 Fellowship Fund. The fund uses donated monies to distribute pet oxygen masks nationally to organizations in need.

In February 2008, Wag’N created the Wag’N O2 Fur Life Program to encourage private individuals and businesses to sponsor their local fire, police, EMS, K9 or military responders with a Wag’N O2 Fur Life Oxygen Mask Kit . Unlike similar pet oxygen mask sponsorship opportunities that provide masks only, Wag’N provides emergency organizations with the training essential to effectively prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Included in each Wag’N O2 Fur Life Oxygen Mask Kit are a set of three McCulloch Medical pet oxygen masks and corresponding oxygen tubes (22 mm), a CPR For Cats & Dogs magnet and laminated instructions to remind first responders of necessary resuscitation steps, a leash, two “Pet Oxygen Masks On Board” decals for display at the station and on emergency vehicles, an instructional DVD presentation and a PowerPoint presentation to train emergency personnel—all wrapped up in a handy Wag’N O2 Fur Life carry bag that can also be used to contain small animals.

“It is imperative that all first responders have access to pet oxygen masks,” said Boyd Dingus, General Manager of McCulloch Medical. “Our partnership with Wag’N Pet Safety Gear will help raise awareness of the importance of this life-saving equipment to U.S. and Canadian first responders and will help us to greatly reduce the number of fire-related pet fatalities.”

Wag’N Pet Safety Gear and McCulloch Medical are pleased to debut their partnership during the Firehouse World Exposition event March 2-4, 2010, Booth #810 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Members of the media can contact Judy Corey at 952-808-3356 or judy.corey@cygnusexpos.com for press passes prior to or in the media room at the Firehouse World Exposition.

About Wag’N Enterprises
Founded in 2007, Wag’N offers pet parents and first responders the necessary gear, supplies and training to effectively mitigate, prepare and respond to emergencies that impact pet health and safety. Chief Wag’N Officer, Ines de Pablo holds a Masters Degree in Risk, Crisis & Emergency Management from the prestigious George Washington University in Washington D.C. and has over a decade of extensive field training experience under her belt.  Wag’N Enterprises is a branded and extensive collection of purposefully designed and all-encompassing crafted tools and services giving people and their pets’ peace of mind in case of an emergency.