When firefighters respond to a residential structure fire, more than likely there is a family pet involved in the rescue, said Lake Havasu City Fire Marshal Chip Shilosky.

On Friday, a handful of businesses officially handed over 10 pet oxygen mask kits to Lake Havasu City Fire Department and Desert Hills Fire Department.

Seven of the kits are for Lake Havasu City Fire Department fire engines and three are for Desert Hills Fire Department fire engines.

“The contribution is a great partnership and it definitely helps us with the community service aspect of fire rescue,” Shilosky said.

Sue Nelson, owner of Satellite Slumber Pet Beds, was inspired to rally other local business owners after seeing the animal oxygen masks featured on a pet-geared television network. She set out to obtain and outfit local rescue units with the kits and was soon joined by Sheila Murphy, owner of Pet Oasis Mobile Grooming Salon; Dorita and Scott Bare, owners of Dorita’s Place; Cartridge World; and Ian & Nellie McDonald, owners of South Side Signs.

Each kit contains a set of three different sizes of snout-accommodating oxygen masks, a pet leash, and a carrying bag that doubles as a tool to contain a frightened feline while oxygen is administered.

Business owner Murphy said the oxygen kits also could be used to help treat heat exhaustion in pets.

Shilosky said most fire rescues in Havasu involve animals including dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, gerbils, birds, pet rabbits and snakes.

“One time we even had to rescue a monkey,” he said.

In the event of a fire rescue, it is important for homeowners to inform firefighters of what type of pet is in the home.

“It is difficult,” Shilosky said. “If I’m told ‘Susie is still in the house’, then I go in looking for a child. And it could turn out to be somebody’s poodle … animals panic just like people do when they see a firefighter in full gear in a situation like that.”

Especially pertaining to pets with a person’s name, clarifying the type of pet it is greatly helps firefighters handle the rescue.

The meet and greet on Friday was at Dorita’s Place, which is the castle building in the Swap Meet parking lot at 1535 Marlboro Drive.

You may contact the reporter at jhanson@havasunews.com.