A project with origins in Pueblo and rooted in one woman's passion for pets, has reached the Arkansas Valley. On Wednesday evening, representatives from the Southern Colorado Kennel Club met with area fire departments in Manzanola to present each with a small animal resuscitation kit.
The program was first introduced in Pueblo last year at the encouragement of long-time SCKC member, Christie Reimer. Concerned pets were dying because emergency and rescue personnel lacked the equipment to save them, Reimer saw an area of need she believed the club could fill. Unfortunately, before the project was complete Reimer fell ill and passed away unexpectedly. SCKC decided to finish the project in Reimer's name to honor her memory. Through a contract with H.E.L.P. Animals, Inc., SCKC was able to purchase enough kits at wholesale cost from SurgiVet, Inc., to distribute to fire stations in Pueblo and the surrounding area.
At Wednesday's meeting in Manzanola kits, each containing three masks; small, medium and large, were given to representatives from fire departments from Manzanola, Rocky Ford, La Junta and Fowler, as well as TransCare. According to Renee Wolfe, president of SCKC, the masks will fit animals ranging in size from small reptiles and birds to large dogs and small foals. The masks hook up to regular oxygen tanks found on rescue trucks and ambulances, or they can be used with a bag system.
Wolfe said 69 percent of homes in the United States have a pet and 40 percent of those homes have dogs. “For many families, losing a pet is like losing your own family member,” she stated.
Forty sets have been purchased for distribution so far, and Wolfe said SCKC will likely attempt to obtain more so every fire department in southern Colorado may be equipped. Cost of the kit is $55.
