Snout Support
Introducing Snout Support
Dr. Sabrina Grinstead, our owner and fearless leader, has long had friends in the local fire department. Many years ago, she asked what she could do to help, and they told her about the shortage of pet equipment on local fire trucks. Dr. Grinstead knew immediately what to do.
Pet oxygen kits save lives. When firefighters respond to a blaze, they often find pets in the structure and need to save fur babies right alongside their people.
In 2018, Eno Animal Hospital started raising money to outfit every fire truck in Durham with a pet oxygen kit. We asked our amazing Eno family to help, matched all donations dollar for dollar, and reached our goal within months.
In May 2019, Dr. Grinstead proudly presented Chief Bob Zoldas and members of the Durham Fire Department, including Captain Tina and pup + Jethro, with 14 pet oxygen kits. Watch the donation ceremony on WRAL.
How have pet oxygen kits saved lives?
A Tale of Survival
On the night of Aug. 6, 2019, fire trucks screamed toward a call at Falconbridge Animal Hospital. Along with many other boarding fur babies, a 4-year-old Greyhound named Derby was pulled from the burning building. Suffering smoke inhalation, his oxygen level was dangerously low.
Because DFD trucks were outfitted with pet oxygen kits, Derby got life-saving oxygen immediately. Watch the story on CBS17 news.
Derby’s mom’s phone rang at midnight. Her fur baby was being rushed by ambulance to an emergency facility. Derby would spend several days at Veterinary Specialty Hospital receiving intense medical care to stabilize his oxygen level, plus bath after bath to cleanse his skin of soot and smoke.
Several first responders told Derby’s mom, Tracy, that without pet oxygen kits, survival outcomes for the Falconbridge dogs would have been very different. Firefighter Emily Hannigan, who was at the scene, told WRAL news just how critical the kits were in saving these fur babies.
Within a week, Derby was home with his mama. Ten days after the ordeal, Tracy called us to say “thank you, thank you, thank you.” A trained paramedic, she is sure the oxygen kit helped save Derby’s life.
“I feel very grateful and blessed,” Tracy told us. “My precious cargo is home with me. Immediate oxygen made a huge difference. I’m just so grateful y’all stepped up.”
Every dog rescued from Falconbridge that night survived because first responders had pet oxygen kits—donated the year before by Eno Animal Hospital.
Our cause is to help first responders help pets. We never want tragedy to strike, but when it does, we have to be ready. We believe a working pet oxygen kit should be on every fire truck and first responder vehicle in every city, everywhere.
How Many More Pets Can We Save?
After the Falconbridge fire, we kept raising money and matching funds. In 2019 and 2020, we donated pet oxygen kits to…
Bahama = three
Stem = three
Creedmoor = two
Lebanon = two
Redwood = one
Each pet oxygen kit costs about $250, and contains three resuscitation bags and three masks designed specifically for dogs and cats of different sizes. The equipment is reusable and easy to clean. Yet all kits wear out at some point.
In April 2024, we named our cause Snout Support. In the fall of 2024, we learned the DFD needed replacement kits fast. With the support of our pet parents and community, Snout Support quickly reached the fundraising goal of $2,000, and Eno Animal Hospital again matched each donation dollar for dollar.
On December 12, 2024, Dr. Grinstead was honored to present 15 pet oxygen kits to Chief Mitchell Morkunas and brave members of the DFD, plus two happy, beloved fur babies who live at Station 9.
Calling All Snout Supporters
Being a positive force in our community is important to us.
When we ask you to donate $1 to Snout Support at your visit, please say yes. We welcome all contributions because every little bit helps. Welcome Snout Supporters!
The Future of Snout Support
Do you know a fire department or first responder organization in need of pet oxygen kits?? We’re ready to start our next fundraising initiative! We take donations for our cause year-round.
To contribute or learn more, please call our team at (919) 471-0308
