Pet Portrait Fundraiser Yields Pet Oxygen Masks for Avon Volunteer Fire Department

The pet portrait fundraiser event we held in October was a huge success, raising more than $300. Some of the money was used to purchase four pet oxygen mask kits for the Avon Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD). The remaining money was donated directly to the AVFD.

“Unlike people, who know to exit a burning building, pets instinctively look for a place to hide and are more quickly overcome by smoke and fumes,” said Dr. Corey Shagensky, PAW medical director. “Special oxygen masks play a key role in reviving pets rescued from smoky situations. The masks can also be useful when pets are passengers in motor vehicle accidents.”

“With different size masks for pets’ noses and mouths, these kits are great and we can’t thank Dr. Shagensky and his team enough,” said AVFD Chief Michael Trick. “We have a few pet oxygen masks, but definitely needed more. Our goal is to one day have a kit on each piece of apparatus.” The goal of PAW is to continue to fund-raise until all of the surrounding towns including Simsbury, West Hartford, Farmington and Canton are all similarly equipped. 

Photographers Amy Brogna Baione and Rob Schedinger donated their time for the fundraiser. The cost of a sitting was a $15 donation to the AVFD. In addition, the photographers will donate 10 percent of sales from the event to the AVFD.