There are plenty of non-profit organizations in the United States whose purpose is to rescue stray dogs and eventually find them forever homes. Some may focus on particular dog breeds, but it’s pretty much the same across the board. But every now and then, there are organizations like The Amazon Foundation that pop up.
What makes this group unique is their goal. Instead of finding homes for dogs or providing for them, they raise funds to purchase pet oxygen masks. Firefighters can use these masks to resuscitate dogs and even cats when they have inhaled too much smoke because of a house fire.
The group was founded by Debra Jo Chiapuzio, who also serves as its president. Debra thought of doing this because of the California fires that wreaked havoc back in 2017. Because of the wildfires at that time, so many families had to leave their homes, and unfortunately, that meant a lot of pets were left behind.
This led to animal shelters in California becoming overcrowded. Debra then decided to adopt a dog to help lessen shelter congestion. When she walked by the kennels, almost all dogs were barking at her, trying to get her attention, except for one. That was Emma, the black Labrador.
Emma just sat calmly and kept quiet as she stared at Debra. This caught Debra’s attention, and she thought that they had an instant connection. Because of the fires and her love for dogs, Debra then founded The Amazon Foundation. She explained that she knew many firefighters aren’t equipped with pet oxygen masks, so they will aim to supply them.
At first, they were able to donate 17 masks. They continued to raise funds and awareness about this problem, and now, they donated over 3,000 pet oxygen masks to several fire departments in California. Debra shared that she felt great being part of something bigger than her. So much so, that she left her job to focus on the foundation.
Credits: Annenberg PetSpace
