It has provided 444 kits in 15 states across America
Published in the February 18-March 3, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Staff Report
A fireman resuscitates a kitten using an Air For Paws-purchased breathing machine. Photo courtesy Air For Paws
Two cats in Kentucky are alive today thanks to the fact that Morgan Hill RE/MAX real estate agent Terry Moriyama saw a photo of a hamster in an oxygen mask back in 2004.
Moriyama, who with her husband Tom Moriyama are the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Volunteers of the Year, was attending the International Conference for the Festival of Trees when she happened to see the photo of the little furry pet being given resuscitation to save its life. The accompanying article described how a fireman had given money to his own fire department to supply three rigs with the specially-made animal resuscitators. Reading that article inspired Moriyama.
On her 50th birthday, she decided to find a way to make sure Morgan Hill animals had a second chance at life during a fire or other crisis.
“Everyone wanted to buy presents, and I said, ‘Let’s not buy presents, let’s buy a kit,’” she said. “So we all bought kits and I hand-painted the Air For Paws logo on the kits sitting here in my living room watching TV — and that’s the beginning of it all.”
After that birthday celebration, Moriyama soon began to actively raise money to purchase more kits for animals, calling her group Air For Paws.
Five years ago, Air For Paws became a nonprofit organization. During the years, it has provided 444 kits for fire departments in 15 states.
Recently, the Olkona, Kentucky fire department was called to a house fire at Chapel Hill Road. The crew members were told a baby was inside the burning home, so they forced entry. There was no baby, but the firefighters found three cats — and two were not breathing. The firefighters took them outside and revived them using the Air For Paws-purchased respirator devices, placing a mask over their mouths and providing oxygen from their tanks.
Officials believe this might be the first time these devices for pets was ever used in Jefferson County, said Olkona Fire Marshal Mike Allendorf.
“We supply animal resuscitation kits to first-responders, to those departments that do not have the capability to afford or get funding for animal equipment,” Moriyama said. “By donating them, they don’t have to go through all the red tape and we can help our furry friends.”
Terry Moriyama’s doggie pal poses on a local fire engine.
The kits come with two different sized masks as well as a DVD training program. Purchased individually, a kit costs $100, but Air For Paws purchases them in bulk which cuts the cost to about $80 per kit. The devices are made by a surgical company and they need to be purchased by a licensed veterinarian. Air For Paws has Doctor Michelle Griffin at the South Valley Animal Hospital buy the devices.
The first responders are trained how to properly fit the mask over a pet’s mouth and adjust the oxygen level for the size of the pet, Moriyama said.
“They just need to know how to regulate for the difference between a Chihuahua and a German Shepherd,” she said.
To raise money to purchase the devices, Air For Paws holds two fundraising events every year. The popular Bow-Wow Luau golf tournament will be held at the Gilroy Municipal Golf Course Aug. 28 this year. On Sunday Feb. 27, Air For Paws will hold its A Feline Affair fundraiser at Rosy’s at the Beach restaurant in downtown Morgan Hill. From 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Rosy’s will offer dishes from a special menu and half the proceeds will go to Air For Paws.
