Ladies Auxiliary donates rescue masks for pets to Warwick Fire Department

Warwick - Heather Gardner, treasurer of the Warwick Fire Department’s Good Will Hook and Ladder Ladies Auxiliary, discovered something interesting while searching the Internet. “I found this company that produced pet rescue masks for fire departments throughout the Country,” she said. “And, I thought we should have those for our fire department.” Gardner presented her suggestion to the Ladies Auxiliary and they agreed to raise the necessary funds to purchase pet rescue mask kits for the five main fire apparatus trucks stationed in Warwick’s three fire houses. Each kit, Gardner explained, includes three masks that can be hooked up to oxygen and used to revive a dog or cat that has been overcome by smoke during a fire. Two of the masks are sized differently for a large and small dog and the third smallest mask can be used for a cat or other small pet such as a rabbit. On Tuesday evening, April 24, Chief Bill DiMartini, Department President Jeff Schadt, Company Line Officers, members of the Good Will Hook and Ladder Ladies Auxiliary and Celia Ross, a volunteer with the Warwick Valley Humane Society gathered for a brief ceremony to accept the donation. Kim Corkum. President of the Ladies Auxiliary and Gardner presented the pet rescue masks to the Department. Ross, also present five slip leashes, a gift from the Humane Society, that can be especially useful in restraining pets during times of severe stress. “Amber,” a friendly Chocolate Lab, was also on hand to demonstrate the equipment.