KINDNESS SAVES LIVES WITH OXYGEN MASKS FOR ANIMALS
Pet lover’s nonprofit furnishes supplies at fire stations
Debra Jo Chiapuzio adopted a puppy years ago that had been found during a California wildfire.
She learned that animals like dogs are so affected by fires because when flames break out, dogs will often run into a smoke-filled house, rather than away from it, because they want to return to their comfort zone.
Then she found out that when firefighters rescue pets, they rely on human oxygen masks that aren’t very effective on animals because they’re designed to fit humans.
“I just knew there had to be a better way,” she said.
Chiapuzio, who was working as a medical tattoo artist for burn victims, started looking on the Internet and found that a company sold oxygen masks specially designed to fit pets’ faces.
“I called my local fire department to see whether they had used them,” said Chiapuzio, 58, who lives in Anaheim.
When she was told no, she suddenly had a new mission.
In 2011 she started the Emma Zen Foundation, a nonprofit named after her rescued Great Dane/Labrador.
After she’d raised enough money to ensure that all engines at her local fire department were outfitted with a pet oxygen mask kit, Chiapuzio began contacting other departments throughout California, she said.
The cone-shaped masks cost about $75 and are designed to fit tightly around a dog or cat’s snout. They have helped to revive several
about her safety.”
The following Monday, Kinney returned to Scott’s home with an offer:
“I have a lot of friends — how about if I put together a group to come over and help you fix things up around here,” he recalled telling her. “There will be no cost to you whatsoever.”
Scott agreed, Kinney said, so that afternoon, he posted about her on his Facebook page and soon had two dozen volunteers lined up.
While cleaning up Scott’s yard and organizing things inside her house, he and the rest of the crew noticed that she had no hot water coming out of her faucets because of faulty plumbing. “The hot water hadn’t been working for months,” he said.
Kinney also discovered that her kitchen sink was broken, the ceilings were full of holes, the back porch had fallen in and the house needed new rain gutters, drywall and paint.
He learned that Scott moved into the two-bedroom, one-bath home in the 1960s with her parents after her marriage ended. She worked as an office assistant and later retired. She had fallen behind on repairs after both parents died about a decade ago, he said.
It was then that Kinney decided to start a new Facebook page called “A Nice Old Lady Needs Help” and raise funds to tackle all of the repairs. In less than a month, nearly $115,000 was raised, he said, and the campaign now has a new name: “Gloria’s Gladiators.”
“We were hoping to inspire others and that’s
exactly what is happening,” said Kinney, noting that the Gloria’s Gladiators group now has more than 15,000 members — many of whom were inspired by Scott’s story to begin doing free home repairs in their own neighborhoods.
“It’s really lifting people up, so I want to keep the good work going,” Kinney said. “Right now, this is bigger than me.”
“Gladiators” from coast to coast are now posting about their own chainreaction volunteer efforts and acts of kindness on Kinney’s group page:
“I live in South Carolina but would love to provide food for you wonderful people,” one woman wrote.
“Is there a schedule? How many would I need to feed? I was thinking I could contact a local restaurant to have it delivered. You are restoring my faith in humanity!”
A man from South Texas added: “I’m an expert on home foundation repairs and would like to start a new (Gloria’s Gladiators) chapter over here. I am offering my services to those that are not fortunate enough to get it done by themselves.”
A woman in Fresno, wrote that Kinney’s kindness movement made her think about her former neighbor. “This Sunday I arrived at her house with a huge bouquet of multicolored roses and Belgium chocolates (her fave) to
celebrate her 82nd birthday. Thank you for helping Gloria.”
The help at Scott’s home includes a rotating crew of landscapers, plumbers, carpenters and bricklayers who are completely remodeling her house, Kinney said, with a goal of having everything finished by the end of November.
Businesses in the community have contributed building supplies, while people without construction experience have pitched in to keep crews fed, he said.
Cathy Bryant, 63, is among those who have dropped off sandwiches and drinks, and she’s now stitching a quilt for Scott to help keep her cozy this winter.
“I asked everybody who’s pitching in to give me a T-shirt with their business logo on it, and I’m going to sew them all together,” Bryant said. “This has been a heartwarming experience for the whole town.”
Victor Oliveira, owner of VCO Landscaping, said he
was excited to redesign Scott’s front and back yards after he read about her on Facebook.
“I knew I had to be a part of this,” he said. “I dropped by one Sunday and told the guys who were there to put me to work.”
Oliveria brought in a crew of 10 to lay new sod, build a patio and plant shrubs and f lowers.
“Gloria’s in love with what we’ve done — she can’t stop smiling,” he said. “And that really brings it all home to me.”
“It’s a great feeling to know that’s she going to now live in a clean and safe house,” added Rick Caillouette, 58, a carpenter who volunteered to be the project manager for Scott’s remodel.
“Gloria’s in seventh heaven and seems at a loss for words about what we’re doing,” he said. “She’s gone from living alone to having a bunch of new friends.”
Scott, who has been on her own for most of her life, said that she had given up
on the idea of having a house “where everything works” because she couldn’t afford to pay for repairs.
“It’s extremely hard to even buy groceries every week,” she said. “I’ve always tried to see the glass halffull, but lately, I’ve really had a hard time.”
She added that she tends to be a private person and feels uncomfortable talking about her personal life and struggles.
When Kinney knocked on her door several days after fixing her faulty light switch, Kinney said she felt so thankful for his offer to help that she was speechless.
“If John Kinney hadn’t come into my life, I’d pretty much still be living in darkness,” she said. “You can’t imagine what it’s like unless you’ve gone through it. He’s just so giving — they all are.”
“I can’t believe that all of these volunteers keep showing up day after day to help me,” Scott said. “I wish that I could think of something to do for them. They’re an incredible band of brothers.”
Kinney said he’s thankful for the opportunity to repair Scott’s home, but there is something else that has also brought him joy.
“We’ve opened up Gloria’s world,” he said. “Now, I hope we can do the same for all of the other Glorias out there. Nobody should have to go through life alone.”