Gresham fire engines get 'Fido Bag' donation

Gresham Fire got a tail-wagging donation that will help ensure firefighters are equipped to save any beloved pets in crisis.

Gresham City Attorney Ellen Van Riper secured the donation of “Fido Bags” via nonprofit organization The Fetch Foundation. Those bags are filled with life-saving emergency supplies for pets.

“I’m very happy I was able to facilitate this donation to the fire department,” Van Riper said. “(The Fetch Foundation) is a great organization.”

Often firefighters need to provide care for animals while responding to a blaze. Before the engines only had one pet-specific emergency kit, which meant major incidents made it difficult to properly care for multiple animals.

“Whether it’s a dog or a cat, sometimes a bird, we carry a pet rescue oxygen kit in our battalion chief rig,” said Fire Chief Scott Lewis. “But there was only one of them, so this donation will now have the gear on every fire engine all over town.”

The Fido Bags have a water dish, specially-designed rescue mask to go over the animal’s snout to provide high-flow oxygen, blankets and leashes.

The Fetch Foundation not only provides the bags, but also trains search and rescue dogs, and pairs veterans and those with post-traumatic stress disorder with service animals. Learn more about the organization at thefetchfoundation.com.