The Dublin Fire Brigade has received widespread praise after rescuing a cat named Biscuit from a house fire in Ballyfermot and reviving him using a pet oxygen mask.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), the brigade posted a photo of a firefighter holding the unconscious cat and gently placing an oxygen mask over its face. Biscuit had been found by a Breathing Apparatus crew inside the smoke-filled home.
“Firefighter ‘paw’amedic Carrick placed a pet oxygen mask on Biscuit and after 10 minutes, Biscuit was snuggling into its owner,” the brigade wrote.
The fire brigade also confirmed that a dog and a budgerigar were safely rescued from the house. Neither required oxygen treatment.
The post, which humorously ended with “A ‘meeow’zing result!”, has been viewed and liked thousands of times—earning more than 13,000 likes. Many users praised the firefighters’ care and the use of specialized equipment for pets.
“A pet is part of the family and it’s only right to have the proper equipment to save their life in the event of a fire,” one commenter wrote.
Another added: “Thank you for your kindness to animals,” while someone else shared their own story of a rescue cat who had survived a house fire and required surgery on a burned ear.
Dublin Fire Brigade is currently trialing the use of pet oxygen masks and hopes to expand their availability across the city.
Experts advise pet owners to have a fire emergency plan that includes knowing where pets are and having carriers ready. If pets cannot be found during a fire, owners are urged to leave the house immediately and alert firefighters to their presence and likely location.
PetMD also recommends pet owners take a pet first aid course to learn life-saving techniques like animal CPR.
Thanks to the quick actions of the brigade and their growing use of pet-specific equipment, Biscuit—and many animals like him—have a better chance of survival.
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