ARMSTRONG COUNTY — Fire departments will be now be able to help animals breathe a little easier, thanks to a donation of animal rescue oxygen mask kits from the Invisible Fence Co. of Pittsburgh and Invisible Fence of Western Pennsylvania.

Fire departments in Parker, Freeport, South Buffalo Township and Sugarcreek Township and the Worthington West Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Department are among 31 Armstrong County fire departments receiving the kits.

Those departments will get the masks Wednesday.

While official statistics are not kept, it’s estimated that 40,000 to 150,000 pets die in fires each year nationwide, mostly because of smoke inhalation, according to a news release from the Invisible Fence Co.

The donation is a part of a national program called Project Breathe that assists fire departments in the United States and Canada with the lifesaving devices.