Martin Volunteers honored donors and fire-rescue personnel during an event for “Big Breath, Bark & Meow,” a project to equip each fire station throughout Martin County with life-saving kits for dogs and cats.

Martin Volunteers presented the “Big Breath” equipment to Martin County Fire-Rescue District Chief Jim Loffredo and City of Stuart Fire Chief Laurie Sunderman during the ceremony, which was held Feb. 23 at Treasure Coast Hospices.

Members of Martin County Fire-Rescue’s Training & Safety Bureau also were on hand – Bureau Chief Jeff Alter, Lt. Pat Gallagher and Lt. Mark Bentz -- along with Douglas Young, the Basic Life Support Coordinator, who will train emergency workers in Martin County on the use of the equipment and other life-saving procedures for pets.

Chief Loffredo said that the equipment will be put to use once the training is complete. He has been an enthusiastic supporter of the project and said emergency workers are looking forward to having the equipment. “If we're able to help people by helping their animals, overall we're helping everybody," he said.

About two dozen donors and guests attended the event, and their gifts were acknowledged through a presentation of plaques that will hang in each firehouse.

A special guest was Rita Medwid, a local dentist and Humane Society volunteer who brought Skipper, a certified therapy dog. Dr. Medwid echoed the comments of many pet owners when she said, “I came here today because I was curious about how they could help my dog if there was a fire at my house. It’s good to know they have all this,” she said, gesturing to the table full of life-saving and training equipment.

Martin Volunteers, a program of United Way of Martin County, launched Big Breath, Bark & Meow in October 2006. The project suggested 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 $12,000, with many people going above and beyond the suggested donation.

Because of the generous response, Martin Volunteers has been able to help in more ways 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.

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." 

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