Because of wonderful people who love pets like those people at East Side Grooming Shop, the shop has been able to purchase and donate another 17 pet rescue mask kits to the area. Carol Hood is continuing to fulfill a desire to give back to the community in the manner of placing more and more pet rescue mask kits into communities in Central Illinois. These masks can be used on scene to help revive dogs, cats and reptiles that have suffered smoke inhalation from a fire or suffer from any type of breathing problem.
Following the first meeting that was held on Feb. 22, 2011 several squads asked about where they could purchase additional kits for their other ambulances or fire trucks. That lead to a decision to start to collect donations that would be used to purchase additional pet rescue mask kits for the additional ambulances in the original towns that were chosen in the beginning, but if there was more money than needed for those, other towns would be added for mask kit placement. To Carol’s amazement enough money was donated to purchase 17 more pet rescue mask kits.
The first 8 of these 17 kits were donated by Max & Carol to each Putman County fire department and to the Putnam County Emergency Medical Service that services all of Putman County. Carol had lost a dog in a fire while living in McNabb in 1966. When she heard of the benefits of these pet masks, Carol & Max decided to share their passion with the departments in Putnam County.
The remaining 9 mask kits were donated to Ambulance Squads and Fire Departments at a meeting held on July 12, 2011 at the Minonk Fire Station. Again there was a demonstration of the use of the rescue masks on both a small dog and a large dog. Each kit provides information on how a mask is applied and shows the flow rate of liters of oxygen appropriate for each size mask. All squads are setting up training sessions on the proper use of the masks.
In the last 10 years there has been a dramatic change in the attitude of animal owners. These pets are now looked upon as members of the family. In addition to this all the counties in the area also have police dogs as well as many service animals. This change of attitude of animal owners, the presence of police dogs and service animals in all counties plus the increase of companion animals in people’s homes has lead to a more dramatic need for equipment to service their needs.
Roanoke, El Paso, Minonk Ambulance Squads and Wenona Fire Department were given additional Pet Rescue kits to be used in their additional ambulances or fire trucks. Kits were also presented to Eureka, Flanagan and Washburn Ambulance Squads.
A Certificate of Appreciation and a special thank you was given to Dinah Twohig of Wenona, IL for her continual support in so many ways of the pet rescue mask program started by Carol & Max. Without her help and support the achievement that has been reached could never have happened. Also a special thank you to Tonya Minz and her Pomeranian, Meko, plus Matt Roth and his St. Bradoodle, Coal, for being so willing to demonstrate the use of the pet rescue masks, and also to Dr. Ronald Goeckner and Jean Hinton of Town & Country Animal Hospital in Normal, IL for their support of this program. Finally Carol & Max want to thank all the wonderful people throughout the area as well as the wonderful East Side Grooming owners that have donated money to allow them to continue to give back to the communities.
On Friday, July 15, 2011, WMBD/WYZZ, Channel 31 & 43, from Peoria, IL, did a follow-up of the Tuesday meeting at East Side Grooming Shop and interviewed Carol; Tonya Minz, Minonk Emergency Squad; and Don Turner and Amber Turner, Minonk Fire Dept. as to the impact that the pet rescue mask kits would have in the communities.
As the donations continue, the goal to place more rescue mask kits in other ambulance squads and fire departments in the area continues. 14 additional squads are now being targeted for the next round of donations. Some of the East Side Grooming owners are making donations and requesting that a pet rescue mask kit be donated to the ambulance or fire department in the town in which they live. Many of the next 14 pet rescue kits will be going to smaller fire departments that will severe many rural areas. The commitment and dream of Carol & Max Hood goes on.
Anyone wishing to donate to this cause can send any donation to East Side Grooming Shop, %Carol Hood, 2105 County Road 2300 E, Minonk, IL 61760. Questions can be directed to Carol Hood @ (309) 432-3075.
Amber Turner, Minonk Fire Dept; Tonya Minz, Minonk Emergency Squad with Meko, her Pomaranian; Deb Stewart, Minonk Emergency Squad Director/El Paso Emergency Squad demonstrate a small dog rescue mask.>
Dinah Twohig of Wenona, IL receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Carol Hood of East Side Grooming Shop.
Bruce Fischer, Roanoke Emergency Squad Training Officer; Matt Roth, Minonk Fire Dept. with Coal, his St. Berdoddle; Neal Craig, Eureka Emergency Squad demonstrate the large dog rescue mask.
Front row: Carol Hood, East Side Grooming Shop; Don Turner, Minonk Fire Dept.; Matt Roth, with Coal, Minonk Fire Dept.;
Back row: Bruce Fischer, Roanoke Emergency Squad Training Officer; Deb Stewart, Minonk Emergency Squad Director/ El Paso Emergency Squad; Neil Craig, Eureka Emergency Squad; Tonya Minz, with Meko, Minonk Emergency Squad; Amber Turner, Minonk Fire Dept.’s first woman firefighter.