PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. - March 28, 2021 - Anthony Coluzzi has devoted much of his life to rescuing animals. On August 5, 2020, Coluzzi's life was forever changed by loss. He had the devastating experience of having a house fire at his home in Port Jefferson, New York. He called 911 thinking that they would do all they could to help rescue his beloved animals that were still trapped inside the blazing fire.
As soon as the department arrived Anthony immediately implored the fire chief for help in getting the pets to safety.
However, Anthony was informed by the fire chief that protocol was protecting human life first, fighting the fire second, and lastly rescuing any pets. Thus, leaving helpless pets in the blaze. Anthony was not interested at all in any of his material items within the house. His only concern was the lives of his beloved pets. He explained with great passion, that with the intense smoke the pets would be easily overcome with carbon monoxide poisoning and they needed to be rescued immediately.
Instead, his desperate pleas for help fell on deaf ears and were ignored. There was plenty of manpower that the fire and this rescue could have been easily accomplished, without putting anyone in danger. However, the fire chief failed to give the instructions to rescue the desperate pets at the outset of the fire in a timely manner. Instead, so many fire fighters stood there watching the home burn while the poor pets were inside gasping for air.
Hours after the fire started a few firefighters, who Anthony will be eternally grateful to rescued some of his pets. However, due to the length of time they needlessly spent trapped in my burning home they now suffer from smoke inhalation/ breathing related problems and also eye problems. Anthony lost two pets in the fire, beautiful cats named, Lauren and Lydia.
As a result of this traumatic experience Anthony researched issue of pet fire rescue. He found out that in New York City, proper protocol is saving human life first then isolating / fighting the fire AND rescuing pets SIMULTANEOUSLY rather than leaving animals to wait and perish in the fire. This is not the protocol in many departments in Suffolk County and this is why his pets perished.
In the pet's memory Anthony Coluzzi wants to propose that the Suffolk county legislature/local fire departments enact procedures and/or protocols wherein every fire has 2 firefighters that will be assigned to rescue pets and that are trained in animal CPR.
He believes no pet owner should have to endure the horrific experience that he did that dreadful evening.
Visit https://www.change.org/p/legislator-kara-hahn-end-pet-fire-deaths-by-changing-a-simple-policy
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