AFD Receives $5,000 to Buy New Pet Oxygen Mask Kits through Auxilary Efforts

The Auxiliary to Austin Firefighters’ Association/Local 975, PETA, and Invisible Fence Instrumental in Raising funds through CrowdRise Campaign

The Austin Fire Department (AFD) announced on August 6, 2015 that it will be able to provide new pet oxygen mask kits for every unit in the city, thanks to a CrowdRise fundraising campaign started by the Auxiliary to the Austin Firefighters’ Association/Local 975, as well as donations from the community, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and Invisible Fence.

Last week, a story about the rescue and resuscitation of an 18-year-old cat at a house fire highlighted the masks that have been on every AFD unit since 2010. Originally donated by PetsAmerica, the masks have reached the end of their useful life and money was not available to replace them. Following a post about the issue on Facebook, the Auxiliary created a CrowdRise page to try and raise the $5,000 needed to replace the kits.

Although donations from the community started coming in almost immediately, the goal seemed pretty far off—that is, until PETA stepped in. They pledged to donate the last $1,000 to put the drive over the top.

Additionally, Invisible Fence came to the rescue as well—they have committed to donating one kit to every station in Austin! That means instead of AFD having to purchase 78 kits (in order to equip each unit), they will only have to buy 33. Whatever funds remain after that will be earmarked and set aside for future kit purchases due to necessary replacement or new units coming online.