Extending a Paw to BART

To some people, animals or just another thing that inhabits the earth, to others they are an extension of the family. Losing a member of the family is extremley hard, even if it is four legged and named Ashes, Buddy or Tank. That is why when I read a story in Ladies' Home Journal about the BART program, it touched my heart.

The story begins on an average day, but ending in tragedy. The New Brighton Fire Department In Minnesota was called to a house fire. The normal anxiety associated with the familiar tone of their fire pager was quickly heightened by the news that followed. The house on fire was owned by a fellow firefighter on the department. The fire trucks roared out of the station with sirens blaring. They quickly arrived on the scene. As the heroic firefighters were battling the flames, they came across Bart, a 13-year-old German Shorthaired Pointer. He had suffered from extensive smoke inhalation and was unresponsive. The firefighters, who included Dr. Janet Olson's husband, did not have the knowledge base or equipment to help Bart and he died. The entire fire department was devastated by this tragedy, feeling helpless to assist one of their own. Bart the dog died that day.

One of the fire fighters that assisted had a wife that was enrolled in veterinary school and felt the loss with her husband and friends. "Despite a tremendous amount of training and dedication, the firefighters felt helpless because they lacked the skills and equipment necessary to help a pet," Dr. Olson says. "I didn't want any rescuer to experience that again." That is when Dr. Janet Olson decided to dedicate her time to train and equip emergency responders, in honor and memory of Bart. The program, was respectfully called BART - Basic Animal Rescue Training.

Funded by grants and donations and staffed mostly by volunteers, the nonprofit organization teaches firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and police officers how to administer first aid and CPR to cats and dogs as well as how to handle larger animals in emergencies. In the past five years BART has certified more than 4,000 firefighters and other first responders, who have subsequently saved the lives of many animals, to the relief of grateful owners.

This story does so much to make me feel warm inside, for one it shows how ordinary people can do extraordinary things. Dr. Olson was just a person who shared a common loss and turned it into something good, and has become nationally recognized for her efforts. Second, this story shows how many people do care for animals when you hear of the abuse stories and see the save an animal commercials on tv (if you have the stomach to watch them, I admit I have to change the channel because I don't). Third, I think it helps to spread hope that our extended family members need not be lost in vain.

I don't know if Le Mars has had the chance to hear about BART, but if you read this story and believe with me that is a good thing, please contact them tell them about the program and why you think it would be a great idea for Le Mars, because an animal life is just as important as a human life to homes they've decided to grace their presence with.