A group of British firefighters are being hailed as heroes for rescuing two cats from a fire – and putting specially designed pet oxygen masks on their faces, according to a report.
The firefighters responded to the fire in Runcorn, an industrial town southeast of Liverpool, around 3 p.m. Saturday, where they fought the flames on the ground floor of the two-story building, the Liverpool Echo reported.
The human occupants were unharmed, but the two cats required medical treatment after the ordeal.
Photos published by the Runcorn Fire Station show two of the smoke eaters cradling the cats in towels while administering oxygen from the pet-friendly masks.
“Thanks to our equipment provided by Smokey Paws and training from Willows Veterinary Group, we were able to administer oxygen before taking the cats to the vets,” the department said in a Facebook post.
The non-profit organization Smokey Paws supplies the special masks to the British fire service.
The group said on its website that “46% of households in the UK have pets and with more than 40,000 house fires per year, it is an unfortunate fact that pets die from smoke inhalation.”
An incident report on the fire published by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said four firefighters using breathing apparatus put out the fire.
An update posted Sunday said the kitties were doing fine.
The fast-acting firefighters received accolades for their purrrfect response.
“Well done and thank you for saving the lives of these beautiful little souls,” wrote one Facebook user.
Another said, “Well done Red Watch, you all deserve a medal.”