Pet Oxygen Masks donated to Mesquite Fire & Rescue

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Four new pet oxygen mask kits were donated on April 13 to Mesquite Fire & Rescue by the Clark County Fire Department and Invisible Fence Brand of Southern Nevada.

The kits, which help save dogs and cats rescued from fires, are being donated by Invisible Fence Brand of Southern Nevada as part of a national effort called Project Breathe to equip fire stations across the United States and Canada. The local donation is one of the largest the company has made since the program started in 2009. Kits were distributed to fire departments in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, Mesquite and Boulder City.

The cone-shaped masks are reusable and are similar to oxygen masks used to treat humans suffering from smoke inhalation. The kit contains three different size pet oxygen masks and adapters to connect to ambulance oxygen delivery systems. A bright orange leash is also included to assist in keeping the animal safe after treatment.

“Mesquite Fire & Rescue is a progressive department always looking to improve on its service capabilities,” said Richard Resnick, Mesquite division chief of operations. “Our highly trained firefighter and emergency medical service providers can now assist pets suffering from smoke inhalation injuries from fires. Your pet’s life and well being are just as important to us as it is to you.”

Interested parties are welcome to see the kits at the fire station according to Chief Resnick. Additional information is available through the Project Breathe website at: http://www.invisiblefence.com/o2.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.