Pennsylvania Girl Scout Raises Funds to Outfit 13 Fire Companies With Oxygen Masks

Last summer, Kaitlin Crouthamel, a Girl Scout and member of Cadette Troop 71135 in Harleyville PA, was looking for a community service project that she could tack on to earn her Silver Scout Award when she learned about Best Friends Cause for Paws Campaign.

The idea of helping to outfit local firefighters with oxygen masks that could save pets lives appeal to her and she decided that she would try to raise enough money to outfit the fire companies in her school district.

After contacting the Best Friends Pet Care Center in Willow Grove, PA to find out how the matching program worked, she began soliciting donations from local businesses, neighbors and friends.

By the end of the year, Kaitlin had raised a total of $1,150 enough to purchase 23 sets of the life-saving masks. Best Friends matched those dollars, making possible the donation of 46 sets, well beyond Kaitlins original goal.

Kaitlin presented the masks to representative from 13 fire departments at a special event at the Harleysville Fire Company.in January. Now outfitted to provide oxygen to pets are the Harleysville Community Fire Company, Souderton Fire Department, Hatfield Fire Company, Green Lane Fire Company, Lansdale Fire Company, Quakertown Fire Company, Schwenksville Fire Company, Sellersville Fire Company, Skippack Fire Company, Perseverance Volunteer Fire Company, Telford Volunteer Fire Company, Tylersport Volunteer Fire Company, Towamencin Fire Company, and Upper Salford Fire Company.

Cause for Paws has distributed more than 3,400 sets of pet masks to fire departments and emergency rescue teams in 20 states. The Campaign is ending this spring.