The Matawan Borough Volunteer Fire Department received a generous donation of five pet oxygen masks from The Emma Zen Foundation.
The gift, which was given Dec. 3, will make it possible for Matawan Borough’s firefighters to provide lifesaving oxygen to pets and other animals overcome by smoke inhalation or lack of oxygen due to house fires, wildfires or other disasters.
Deputy Chief Richard Michitsch is happy to add these lifesaving tools to Matawan Borough’s trucks.
“The Matawan Borough Fire Department is responsible for protecting the health, safety and welfare of the Borough residents,” he said. “To better serve the community, the Fire Department in conjunction with the Matawan Borough Animal Advisory Committee has been provided with pet oxygen masks that will … support the furry family members of our community.”
The Matawan Borough Animal Advisory Committee facilitated the procurement of the pet oxygen masks, introducing the idea to obtain them and conducting fundraising to “pay it forward” so that The Emma Zen Foundation can fulfill a future request for equipment.
The Emma Zen Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Anaheim, California, and has provided over 3,000 pet oxygen masks to first responder and firefighting units.
The Matawan Borough Animal Advisory Committee, active in the Borough since December 2015, serves as a volunteer resource for residents’ questions on animal issues.
For more information about The Emma Zen Foundation, visit www.emmazenfoundation.com. The Matawan Borough Animal Advisory Committee can be reached at www.facebook.com/matawananimalcommittee/.
