September 18 – “Opportunity for More Fire Department Heroics”

Well, the fire department once again made the Galveston Daily News.  This time it was a report on some brand new equipment that was donated that will make it possible for them to perform even more heroic rescues than they already do every day.  It seems the local Humans Society gave the department some pet oxygen masks.  Various sizes and shapes to fit big or small dogs and even cats.  Not sure about guinea pigs, though.  Or birds.  They didn’t mention birds.  Or lizards.  Or snakes.  Or pot-bellied pigs.  Or chicken.  It’s legal to have chickens in Galveston, isn’t it?  But I guess if a chicken was in a fire there are other options there ... Fried ... Baked.  Or fish.  This is Galveston.  What about the fish?  You know, I was reading to Cailyn just last night about the smallest cat known to be alive.  It was three inches tall.  Wouldn’t take much oxygen on that one.  We also learned that the largest domesticated rabbit on record was almost as tall as she is.  Three feet six inches.  But rabbits don’t have that big of a head.  Maybe the rabbit could use one of the cat masks. 

I was able to watch one of the fire department training exercises a while back.  It was pretty intense.  Involved escaping from tangled wires or reaching the point where you realized you were not going to be able to escape and calling out a mayday.  So far every guy I have talked to about it really liked it because it was “hands-on” and “intense” and “way better than just reading stuff in a book.”  Nice job, whoever developed that training.  Now I was just thinking.  I would really like to be in on the training for using the new pet oxygen masks.  All the guys could bring in their pets and try it out on them.  Or they could drive around and try to get some stray pet volunteers.  Then after training they could take the newly-oxygenated strays over to the Humane Society.  Who wouldn’t want to adopt a pet that had been a training partner with the fire department?  That would be like having your very own celebrity living under your roof.   Everybody would be happy, happy, happy.

Seriously, I think it is amazing that someone has developed and funded this kind of equipment.  And for many people, their pets are more than just pet-able pieces of furniture.  They consider them companions, friends, family.  And it will matter a great deal to someone when their little family member survives a smoky inferno because just the right equipment was available.  Thank you, Galveston Humane Society, for caring enough to provide them.  And thank you, Galveston Fire and Rescue, for being gracious enough to receive them and incorporate them into your repertoire of life-saving equipment.  Hang in there, Fido and Fluffy.  Help is on the way.

Psalms 111:9 says, “He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever — holy and awesome is his name.”

Father, thank you for the domestication of animals of all kinds.  They have helped many people through the years come to understand unconditional love.  Amen.