Help Save a Pet!

The story began on June 26, 2014, when a local NBC affiliate aired the story of a house fire in Columbia. Four large firemen working quickly and effectively were able to resuscitate a cat that was found unconscious and overcome with smoke in the house fire. The efforts to save the cat, named “soldier,” would have been in vain and tragically unsuccessful without the proper life-saving equipment available. Upon further scrutiny of the incident, it became apparent that all four of the responding fire trucks did not have the pet oxygen kits on board necessary for such an emergency.

Inspired by this near-tragic event, it became the mission and purpose of Pet Oxygen Kit Project Inc., a nonprofit organization advocating for the safety of pets and animals, to supply and equip every firetruck in all 46 counties in South Carolina with these vital oxygen kits. All monies raised through the fundraising efforts of Pet Oxygen Kit Project go toward the purchase of emergency life-saving oxygen kits for animals. The kits are reusable and suited for cats, dogs, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs and many other small animals. Invaluable door decals alerting first responders of the presence of pets inside of a home, or location, are also available to consumers and highly recommended for use by most fire departments and emergency medical services. National Pet Fire Safety Day is Wednesday, July 15, and in observance, the Pet Oxygen Kit Project challenges residents throughout the Midlands to consider supporting this important effort to save the lives of our “four-legged” loved ones.

For more information about Pet Oxygen Project Inc., email Nena Sinclair at [email protected] or Mary Ellen Tobias at [email protected].