PET-owners in Wokingham can rest easy knowing that, in the event of a fire, their four-legged friends will be taken care of too.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), with the help of Yorkshire Terrier Pelucchi and his owner Zoe Le Carpentier, have raised enough funds to equip every fire engine with pet oxygen masks.
At a cost of £90 for a set of three masks, Zoe and Pelucchi set about raising the funds through sales of a charity calendar, with all proceeds going towards RBFRS. The service is now equipped with 21 masks.
The masks differ from human masks as they are designed to fit aorund an animal’s snout, making the oxygen far more concentrated when delivered to animals in need.
Andy Fry, Chief Fire Officer for RBFRS, said: “We are delighted to receive the pet oxygen masks from Smokey Paws, courtesy of Pelucchi and his owner, Zoe Le Carpentier. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated in order to provide our fire engines with this life saving equipment. We all know how much our pets mean to us and this is one of the ways that we can ensure a swift and effective response for our residents’ furry friends.”
Zoe said: “I have been asked a few times about a calendar of Pelucchi but I had never been able to decide on a theme or charity. I had been welcomed so warmly whilst spending time researching backdrops at Maidenhead and Whitley Wood retained recruitment days and after seeing Smokey Paws at a canine show last year and finding out that RBFRS didn’t have pet oxygen masks it all came together like a perfect fit.
“When I first set out to create the calendar I had no real understanding of a firefighter’s role or the strength of the community feel at each station. My respect and admiration for the work they do and the support they give each other has increased so much. I am humbled by the work they do and so very pleased to be able to support them in some small way.”
