By Janice Arenofsky

November 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)--As Lois Abrams drove to El Toro High School in Lake Forest, Calif., her car all but disappeared behind the heavy curtain of smoke and ash stemming from the October 2007 San Diego County wildfires.

But it was pollution—not low visibility--that bothered Abrams. She had a face mask for herself, but how could she protect Duke and Romeo--her two Cavalier King George Spaniels--from inhaling toxins?