Last May, Susan Weldon and her family were saved by a dog. Now she is returning the favor.
Susan was sound asleep when she was woken by the new family dog, Brewser, who had been adopted from the pound the month before.
The 18-month-old chocolate lab and pit bull mix was jumping on Weldon’s chest to wake her up. At first, Susan thought that she couldn’t open her eyes. Once awake, she quickly realized her eyes were open — and the room was filled with smoke.
She and her now-husband, Jim, quickly gathered Brewser and left the room. Weldon banged on her son Paul’s door and grabbed her son DJ, who is deaf. Jim grabbed the family’s other dog Pevo, and they all made it outside.
Firefighters quickly arrived to put out the fire. The fire department was able to find the family a pet friendly motel for a few days. Their dog food was contaminated, but someone pressed $20 into Susan’s hand for replacement food. She went to the Federal Way PetCo. After explaining her story, Susan found herself with a basket full of replacement bowls, food, treats and a couple toys, all for that $20.
Giving back
In September, Susan came across a scene that inspired her to give back. She was driving home and came across a fire scene — with a woman trying to hold her cat while the chaos raged around her.
That night, the idea for Pet Care Kits was born. After speaking with Jeff Hamel, a South King Fire and Rescue firefighter who helped during her house fire, Susan contacted the South King Firefighters Foundation about adding Pet Care Kits to their “After the Fire” program, which helps families in need after fires.
“We wanted to do something,” Susan said. “Just sending cookies didn’t seem like enough.”
Since then, she has gathered donations from the PetCo Foundation, the local PetCo and the local Carpenters unions. She has now gathered enough supplies to put together 100 kits.
Kits for dogs include two days worth of dry food, two days worth of canned food, a portable water bowl, a portable feed bowl, a small toy and a leash.
For the cats there is a pet carrier, a leash, two days worth of both canned and dry food, a disposable litter tray and two days worth of litter, a small toy, and portable food and water bowls.
She is also hoping to add gift certificates for $5 or $10 for either PetCo or PetSmart.
On Jan. 24, she began assembling the kits, putting together 10-20 complete kits and assembling the rest without the food, which can spoil.
Some will be kept at SKFR headquarters, and some will remained stored at Susan’s new home. She plans on refilling the department’s supply whenever it gets used.
The kits will be given out for each pet that is affected by a fire.
Susan isn’t sure yet how frequently the kits will be needed.
“I hope there is never a need for them,” Susan said. “But there always is.”
Anyone with donations can drop them off at a fire station.
