Brother and Sister Make a Pet-Friendly Donation to the Bedford Fire Department

By Julie McCay Turner

When Ainsley and Spencer Keating heard about the pet resuscitation kit donated to a nearby fire department, they set out to provide similar kits for the Bedford Fire Department because of their pets, two dogs and a cat.

To supply each of the Bedford Fire Department’s six vehicles, the Keating children — ages 10 and 7 — raised sufficient funds for each vehicle to carry a $75 Wag’N O2 Fur Life® kit on board. The kits include small, medium and large oxygen masks for pets, along with appropriate tubing for standard oxygen tanks and a kennel lead to control anxious animals during an emergency. The kits also have information about using the masks and providing CPR for cats and dogs.

“We thank the Keating family for facilitating the donation of emergency responder kits for pets, said Bedford’s Fire Chief David Grunes. “The kits will provide the tools to provide immediate emergency care to a domestic animal that has suffered smoke inhalation at a fire.”

Each of the six kits includes a certificate listing the donors who helped to make the children’s project a reality. Gifts supporting the program came from the Keating Family; Callahan’s Karate; Barry & Sally Neal; Jane Patterson, Bob & MaryEllen Dunstan, Margo Parent, Sue Watson; The Culhane Family, Dave & Jen Cavanaugh, Fetch It; and Janet Green, Amy Doherty, Jen Buckley, Gretchen Kind, and the Adams family.