A local pet therapy organization is still seeking contributions and donations to help save the lives of pets at disaster scenes in Milledgeville and Baldwin County.

In September, Pat Hester with TheraPups, a pet therapy organization that visits locations such as nursing homes, veterans’ homes and hospitals in the Central Georgia area, announced the organization was attempting to purchase 12 sets of life-saving breathing masks for the Milledgeville and Baldwin County fire departments.

“TheraPups is a pet therapy group. We’re taking donations to buy pet resuscitation masks for the fire departments in the city and county. They’re $75 for a set of masks. There is a need for this -- some have said that they’ve had to use human masks in working to resuscitate animals,” Hester stated last month.

Thursday morning, Hester, fellow TheraPups member Melanie Candler and Dixie the therapy dog joined Baldwin County Commissioner Bobby Blizzard, Georgia College & State University G.I.V.E. Center president Kendall Stiles, Animal Rescue Foundation president Bobbie Thompson, Baldwin County Fire Chief Tommy Smith, Milledgeville Fire Chief Tom Dietrich for a photo opportunity and impromptu press conference at the fire station on Allen Memorial Drive for an update on how the missions for masks was proceeding.

“We have received donations and pledges for eight sets so far, and we’re trying for 12,” Hester said. “For Thursday, we wanted to get together with the fire chiefs and take some photos of what we have for the public to see how the project is proceeding.”

The initial idea for the resuscitation masks came from Houston County, according to Candler.

“They were doing a similar project and e-mailed us about it. Once we get all the Baldwin County trucks equipped, we may try to equip Putnam County next. I live in Putnam County and it would make me feel better to know that my pets were safe,” Candler said.

The need for the masks is crucial when it comes to attempting to save the life of a four-legged friend, according to Smith.

“It’s going to be a good thing for us to use because we’ve needed these in the past. They will work out quite well because they’re fitted for the animals. It hasn’t happened very often for the county, but we’ve had maybe three or four times in the past 15 years where we have had to use human masks in an attempt to resuscitate animals,” Smith said.

Animal Rescue Foundation, which hosted its annual Pet Walk in September and provided a space for TheraPups to use the day of the walk to promote the organization and the attempt to purchase masks, was represented Thursday by ARF president Bobbie Thompson, who gave her own thoughts on the TheraPups project.

“I think it’s great. ARF has donated two sets of masks. We paid for one for the county and one for the city. It’s literally a life saver for the animals. These are specially made for them,” Thompson said.

As for the eight masks already provided since the initial publicity behind the project was published last month, Hester expressed her gratitude to the public for the strong response and encouraged the community to continue to support the quest for animal breathing masks for the fire departments.

“I feel pretty sure we’ll get the other four. We had one gentleman who donated specifically request his donation be provided to East Baldwin,” Hester said.

For more information, contact Pat Hester at (478) 968-5664 or Melanie Candler at (706) 485-9443 for donations.