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Animal welfare advocates give pets a breath of life
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
 Click here to enlarge this photo Submitted photo
Members of North Beach Volunteer Fire Department, along with Calvert County Commissioner Linda Kelley standing in the back row, while demonstrators hold donated oxygen mask to the snouts of dogs. The Calvert County Pets Coalition groups and area veterinarians collected donations to purchase enough pet oxygen masks to cover every rescue squad in Calvert County.
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Losing one's belongings in a home fire is devastating, but losing a family pet makes the situation even more tragic and the Calvert County Pet Coalition recognized this and took action.
The CCPC and area veterinarians pooled donations to purchase enough pet oxygen masks for every rescue squad ambulance in Calvert County.
"It's a good way to save their lives," said Mary Baldwin of the coalition and the Patuxent Animal Welfare Society. She said she heard about rescue squads equipped with oxygen masks for pets in other locations and Calvert's pet organizations got together to raise funds to donate oxygen mask to Calvert County rescue squads. A press release stated that three different sizes of masks were donated that will assume a tight seal on the face of a pet from the size of a kitten to Great Dane. Having oxygen administered on the scene of the trauma may save the life of a valued family pet.
Calvert County Commissioner Linda Kelley, a longtime animal welfare advocate, said: "How terrible is it to lose your beloved pet at the same time," commenting on losing a pet in a home fire. If a pet is overcome by smoke inhalation all it takes is a mask that fits and a little oxygen, she said.
"It's such a simple thing and they don't take up much space," Kelley said. Kelley was the link between the coalition and the Calvert County Department of Public Safety connecting with the volunteer fire departments and rescue squads to distribute the masks.
"I'm very pleased with the receptiveness of all the volunteers. You hope you never have to use it, but if you need it you want it to be there," she said.
The Calvert County Pet Coalition, composed of the Calvert Animal Welfare League Inc; the Chesapeake SPCA; the Friends of Felines Inc; the Humane Society of Calvert County Inc. and the Patuxent Animal Welfare Society Inc; donated more than $1,000 worth of equipment to local rescue squads.
"Every organization contributed some amount of money," Baldwin said. The CCPC, organized two years ago, meets quarterly at round table meetings to exchange ideas, Baldwin said.
"We're able to support each other in events," she said.
Four county veterinary offices also contributed to the donation, Calvert Animal Hospital, Chesapeake Animal Clinic by Vetcor, Dunkirk Animal Hospital and Mid-Atlantic Animal Specialty Hospital, a press release stated.
The coalition also supports the Promise Wagon Mobile Veterinarian Clinic, which spent last Sunday in the parking lot of the Calvert Animal Welfare League servicing pets with shots, spaying and neutering. Veterinarian Thomas Smith, who owns the mobile clinic, has scheduled another full day for services at the animal league on Aug. 16, said Baldwin.
"We're all working together for the welfare and treatment of animals," Kelley said.
The American Red Cross Southern Maryland Chapter also acknowledges the importance of pets to a family and now offers a pet CPR class.
"Pets are recognized as being such a member of the family," said Greg Jones, the chapter's director of disaster relief. When a family is displaced from its home due to fire, the Red Cross tries to find a hotel temporarily that will allow pets if the family has a pet, he said, adding there is also an agreement with Tri County Animal Shelter to take care of pets temporarily when families are displaced.
"It's crucial, focusing on pets. I think that's become the recognition now from different groups," he said.
To learn more
The Red Cross offers pet first aid classes, which includes CPR for dogs and cats, providing four hours of training, a first aid book for cats and dogs and an instructional DVD, said Debora Storey of the Southern Maryland Chapter. Pepper's Pet Pantry in Solomons held a class three months ago and is planning to hold another in the fall, but the Red Cross would like to train more leaders for pet first aid classes. "With a couple of hours, you could become a leader. It's all video driven. It's not that difficult," Storey said. Individuals, pet organizations or pet stores may host a class. For more information call the Southern Maryland Chapter at 1-888-276-2767, Ext. 317.
