This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Kids & Family

Canton Pet Owners: Get Pet Photographed, Help Support Local Fire Departments

Progressive Animal Wellness (PAW) to host annual pet portrait event to raise funds for pet oxygen masks for West Hartford Fire Department

Pretty pooch? Fashionable feline? Just in time for this year’s holiday card-sending season, Progressive Animal Wellness (PAW) in Avon is offering its annual opportunity to have pets professionally photographed while helping better equip the local fire departments to help our furry friends. With the money raised by last year’s event, PAW purchased four pet oxygen masks for the Avon Volunteer Fire Department. This year’s event will benefit the West Hartford Fire Department.

On Saturday, November 8, 2014, from 2:00-5:30 p.m., PAW is offering portrait sittings with Amy Brogna Baione Photography and RJS Photography. Amy Brogna Baione is a traditional lifestyle and family photographer. Rob Schedinger of RJS Photography uses a green screen background that can be removed and replaced with a different setting.

The cost is $15 per pet for a 20-minute session. All sitting fees will be donated to the West Hartford Fire Department (WHFD) for the purchase of pet oxygen masks. Unlike people, who know to exit a burning building, pets instinctively look for a place to hide and are more quickly overcome by smoke and fumes. Special oxygen masks play a key role in reviving pets rescued from smoky situations. In fact, earlier this year, the West Hartford Fire Department (WHFD) was able to rescue and revive a cat utilizing a pet oxygen mask. To remain able to help in these situations, WHFD needs to regularly replenish its supply of masks.

Find out what's happening in Cantonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Images, photos, cards, and more can be purchased directly from the photographers, with 10 percent of sales also being donated to the WHFD. To schedule a portrait sitting for your pet, please call PAW at (860) 325-2124.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?