Martin Volunteers has led an effort -- called Big Breath, Bark & Meow -- to equip each fire station throughout Martin County with life-saving kits for dogs and cats.

A ceremony will be held 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Treasure Coast Hospices (1201 SE Indian St., Stuart)  to make a presentation to Martin County Fire Chief Tom Billington and City of Stuart Fire Chief Laurie Sunderman. Contributors to the project have been invited to attend, and they also will be acknowledged by the placement of a plaque in designated fire houses.

Martin Volunteers launched Big Breath, Bark & Meow in October 2006 and called for a $100 gift to equip each firehouse in Martin County with oxygen masks in three sizes: for cats, small dogs and large dogs.

The response was overwhelming, bringing in nearly $11,560, with many people going above and beyond the suggested donation.

Because of the generous response, Martin Volunteers has been able to do even more than initially planned.

Each of the 40 fire trucks in Martin County will be equipped with a kit that includes the set of three oxygen masks as well as a resuscitator device. Two additional kits were ordered for training purposes.

Martin Volunteers also was able to purchase "Critical Care Jerry" and "Critical Care Fluffy" -- lifelike models of a dog and a cat that are designed to let rescuers practice life-saving procedures on animals.

Martin County Fire-Rescue district chief Jim Lofredo was enthusiastic about this project from the start. "If we're able to help people by helping their animals, overall we're helping everybody," he said.

Pet oxygen masks have become a valuable tool for firefighters nationwide. The masks fit snugly around animal snouts, providing more oxygen than human masks if a pet suffers smoke inhalation in a fire.

“This project combined a love for animals with a solution to a practical need in the community,” said Martin Volunteers project coordinator Anne Lalley. "The response from pet lovers was phenomenal. Also, one person who contributed was a former first responder in New Hampshire. She said she had seen so many people's pets affected in fires and she wanted to help out here."

In addition to the 69 donors, other individuals have helped the cause. Christy Spittler of Federal Animal Hospital provided her expertise and offered the help of the Martin County Veterinary Medical Association in acquiring the items for Big Breath, Bark & Meow.

Also, Douglas Young of Martin County Fire-Rescue will train all firefighters in Martin County on the use of the equipment and other life-saving procedures.

For more information about Martin Volunteers and this project, please contact Anne Lalley at (772) 220-4472, ext. 232, or visit www.martinvolunteers.org.

Martin Volunteers formerly was known as the Volunteer & Community Resource Center (VCRC) and is a program of United Way of Martin County.