Ok, so this isn’t California or China, where I’ve heard it can be nearly impossible to breathe outside at times.

But even here in Buffalo, NY. USA, the air quality has been bad recently due to smoke coming down from the Canadian wildfires.  There have been many days when air quality advisories were issued and people were told to stay inside with AC and air purifiers running and to wear face masks when outside, especially those people who are elderly or who suffer from a medical condition which could affect their breathing.

On the worst recent day, hubby commented that it was too bad no one made face masks for dogs.

Say what?  I knew that wasn’t true because I’ve seen pictures of military and police dogs wearing gas masks.  Surely, there was something similar for ordinary dogs.

Like many people, my favorite website since the beginning of the pandemic is Amazon.com.  Searching there for “face masks for dogs” not only came up with the full-face military doggie gas masks (probably very effective but a little pricey), but they also had masks similar to those worn by humans – a simple design with a strap going behind the ears.  I ordered one (only $7.99) just to try it out.

Puppy Cody wasn’t thrilled.  Immediately, she pawed the darn thing off, and in the  process she managed to get her front dew claw caught in the strap and nearly broke her leg before I could get to her.  That was a little scary, needless to say.

However, I think the mask will work just fine when she’s on leash, walking and distracted by other things (like other dogs! squirrels! bunnies! or who’s been peeing on that hydrant/tree/planter?).  She’ll need a smaller size, though.  I purchased a medium, but it’s a bit loose on her face – probably a small size will work better for her.  We’ll see.

To anyone who’s now frantically searching Amazon for the same mask for their dog, bear in mind that the mask was shipped directly from it’s manufacturer in China and took a few weeks to get through customs before arriving at my home.  This seems to be a relatively new product so I would imagine that if the doggie masks become popular enough, someone in the U.S. will either start importing them or making them here, but in the meantime allow time for shipping.

And to those of my readers who live in the U.S. – have a happy upcoming Fourth of July.  I searched “noise canceling headphones for dogs” on Amazon, and yes they do exist but the good ones are fairly costly.  We’ll just keep Cody inside with us, with ACs and air purifiers running, the TVs on loud, and allow her to hide in whatever corner she chooses.  That worked well last year so long as we managed to get her out early enough before the fireworks started so she could do her business.  Within a day or two afterwards, she was back to her normal loveable but annoying self.

Hugs, all!

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Images by Cordelia’s Mom/TeddyRosalieStudio