Port Coquitlam ESS: A follow-up to yesterday's post

Following are a couple of press releases from Mountain View Veterinary Hospital to further explain how the project was funded and why Port Coquitlam was one of the communities receiving this donation.

Pet Oxygen Mask Fundraiser - Fact Sheet

Originally April 8^th – May 2^nd, 2015, but expanded due to success.

Donated masks to the Township of Langley Fire Department, City of Langley Fire-Rescue Service, Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service, Port Moody Fire-Rescue, and now Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services.

To raise the funds, Mountain View did pet nail trims by donation, and collected cash donations. Donations came from all over Metro Vancouver, and even from the US. The response from the community was so great that we have since expanded it across BC.

In addition to donating the masks, Mountain View will also be offering training to firefighters on the correct use of the masks and pet CPR.

What comes in each Kit:

‣ 3 Reusable Oxygen Masks - 1 small, 1 medium & 1 large

‣ 3 Oxygen Air Tubes - 22 mm diameter that fit in to the FD’s existing O2 supply system

‣ 1 Wag'N O2 Fur Life^® Carry Bag for easy storage & mobility

‣ 1 Laminated Instruction Sheet which includes ABCs of CPR For Cats & Dogs

‣ 1 Kennel Lead for animal restraint & control

‣ 2 Animal Incident Report (AIR)™ Forms for First Responders –

‣ 1 Pet Rescue Notice Form provided in electronic format

‣ 1 PowerPoint Presentation provided in electronic format

‣ 2 "Pet Oxygen Masks On Board"™ Decals

‣ 1 Wag'N Instructional DVD "Pets Need Oxygen Too"™

Why are we making this donation?

Port Coquitlam has a large pet population. Using the Canadian National average of 35% of households having a dog and 38% having a cat, we can conservatively estimate* that there are over 15,700 pets living in the City.

Many of those pets remain at home alone while their owners are out. Should a fire break out or a natural disaster occur, pets are at an increased risk of suffering injury because unlike humans who flee from the fire or other dangers, pets instinctively seek a hiding place within the home. In the event of a fire, it is most often smoke inhalation that kills pets and not injury from burns.

Currently not all Fire Departments carry pet oxygen masks on their fire trucks and having masks designed specifically for pets could significantly increase the chance that they can be revived.

To date, the donations to the Township of Langley, City of Langley, Abbotsford, Port Moody and Port Coquitlam will help increase the probability of survival for approximately 108,000 pets, should they be caught in a fire.

For more information on the fundraiser, contact Matt Ferguson at 604.644.9971 or via email at matt@progressivehealth.ca.

* - the National Average includes downtown urban areas where typically, the number of pets is far fewer.

June 29, 2015

News Release

Trim Those Paws for A Great Cause! Successful Fundraiser to Purchase Pet Oxygen Masks

For Local Fire Departments Expanded To Port Coquitlam.

Mountain View Veterinary Hospital in co-operation with the Port Coquitlam Fire & Emergency Services, will be providing 4 Pet Oxygen Mask Kits for placement on City fire trucks.

Mountain View began the fundraiser on April 8^th,2015, offering pet nail trims by donation. Our initial goal was to provide Pet Oxygen Mask Kits for the Township of Langley Fire Department. Due to the incredible support of the local community, within 2 weeks we had surpassed that goal and reached out to other local Fire Departments to have the Kits placed on their trucks. To date, the Township of Langley, City of Langley, City of Abbotsford and Port Moody have been equipped with the Kits.

The presentation of the masks will occur on <confirm Date> at <confirm location> in Port Coquitlam. In addition to the donation of the masks, Mountain View will also be offering training to City fire fighters on the use of the masks and pet resuscitation techniques.

The Pet Oxygen Mask Kits come with 3 different size masks (S, M, L) that can be used on dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds and more. They are high quality, reusable and will fit seamlessly with the Fire Service’s existing oxygen supply systems.

Background Information

Port Coquitlam has an estimated pet population of over 15,700, and many of those pets remain at home alone while their owners are out. Should a fire break out or a natural disaster occur, pets are at an increased risk of suffering injury because unlike humans who flee from the fire or other dangers, pets instinctively seek a hiding place within the home. Currently there are no pet oxygen masks on City fire trucks and having masks designed specifically for pets could significantly increase the chance that they can be revived.

About Mountain View Veterinary Hospital

Mountain View Veterinary Hospital is a small-animal veterinary practice serving the communities throughout the Fraser Valley. We are a fully equipped, full-service animal hospital offering preventive, medical, surgical and dental care for cats and dogs. Lead by Dr. Renee Ferguson, we have an experienced and highly qualified team, who are committed to providing quality care for pets with a special focus on customer service.

For more information on the fundraiser, please contact Matt Ferguson at 604.644.9971 or email matt@progressivehealth.ca

www.MountainViewVeterinary.ca