After reading a newspaper article reporting that the Fire Department did not have snout-shaped resuscitation masks for pets, the North End couple donated $200 to the Cause for Paws campaign that supplies the devices.

Norwalk-based Best Friends Pet Care, which runs the campaign, then matched the donation and supplied the masks.

Each of the city's eight fire stations got a package with a mask for small dogs, another for large dogs and a third for cats.

"We were very happy to do it, and it made us feel really, really good," Laura Petroccia said. The masks were presented last Thursday at Fire Department headquarters on Congress Street.

Petroccia, a Best Friends Pet Care official, provisional Fire Chief Brian Rooney and Fire Capt. Charles Dimbo attended.

The Petroccias also brought their dog, Rudy, to the ceremony.

Even if firefighters don't have specialized breathing gear for animals, they try to rescue them from fires or other emergencies, Dimbo said.

"We've saved dogs by using our regular people masks," he said. "We would make do with what we had.

"It's something positive. It's a good idea," he said of the new masks.

Debra Bennetts, the Cause for Paws coordinator, said the company has supplied masks to 100 state fire departments, including Norwalk, Westport, Fairfield, Weston, Ridgefield, Danbury, New Canaan, Greenwich and Stamford.

Bennetts said the campaign has outfitted about 400 departments nationwide since it was launched two years ago.

The Stratford and Milford fire departments also recently acquired animal-breathing masks, although from other sources.

Susan Sullivan, Best Friends manager, demonstrated the device on a dog.

Anyone interested in the masks campaign can call Debra Bennetts at 846-4660, or go to www.bestfriendspetcare.org, and click on the mask link.

Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.