Anne Arundel firefighters rushed to the scene of a car crash and knelt around Sadie’s 8-pound body, knowing she would die if they couldn’t keep her breathing.
Christian Sherman, 11, of Hanover, held Sadie while rescuers wrapped a blanket around the 1-year-old toy fox terrier and applied a pet oxygen mask.
Sadie was the first animal saved with a pet oxygen mask since the device was introduced to the fire department in April.
“We do a lot to help our human members of our community, but a pet is a member of their family,” said Battalion Chief Matthew Tobia, county fire spokesman.
Kristen Sherman, 16, of Hanover, was driving with Sadie and her brother Christian during Saturday’s storm when she lost control of the car and slammed into a mail truck at the intersection of Park Circle Drive and Race Road.
Everyone survived the crash without injuries, but Sadie was tossed about the car and suffered a severe head injury. Veterinarians at the Emergency Animal Hospital in Ellicott City gave Sadie a 60 percent chance of survival.
“We did everything we possibly could to give her that chance,” said Sadie’s owner and the children’s mother, Beverly Sherman. “You don’t realize how much a part of the family pets are until something like that happens.”
The swelling has gone down around Sadie’s brain, and she is eating regular meals, Sherman said.
“She’s doing great. The doctor didn’t think she would be able to walk, but she’s on all four paws now,” Sherman added.
The pet oxygen masks were added to county fire engines through a donation from national nonprofit H.E.L.P. Animals and Canine Fitness Center in Crownsville.
“I am proud of our responders who demonstrated their commitment to our citizens by focusing on all of the patients at the scene — two-legged and four-legged,” said County Executive John R. Leopold, who owns a Labrador retriever and a cat.
Sherman said Sadie turns 2 in November, but will receive an early birthday present.
“I just found out they have harnesses for dogs to be belted into the car seat,” she said. “So guess what she’s getting.”
