By Chris Fischer
On Mon., Oct. 28th, Gerri Gallup of Redfield presented the Rural and City Fire Departments with oxygen masks for pets. Two masks kits, one for each department, were donated. The donation, made at the Rural Departments meeting, was a welcome one. Per the American Veterinary Medical Association, around 40,000 pets were casualties of housefires each year. Most of these were due to smoke inhalation.
Sisters Gerri and Jolene Gallup (who is currently residing in Arizona) wanted to do something in honor of their father, Tom. He was a firefighter with the Redfield City Department for 40 years, and with the Rural Department for 37 years. They had been trying to think of some small thing that the fire departments would need or want. Eventually Gerri came up with the idea of the oxygen masks for pets.
Gerri Gallup reached out to Tracy Schroeder, Rural Chief; Jay Hermann, City Chief; and Jesse Lewis, Assistant City Chief. They were receptive to the idea. It took a little while to find and purchase the mask kits. They were purchased with funds from the Gallup estate.
As she presented the mask kits, Gerri Gallup said Toms love for animals, especially dogs and Dalmatians specifically, was one of his best attributes. He brought us up to be animal lovers. We thought the pet oxygen mask kits would be the best, most useful way to help both departments, and in turn help the animals of Redfield and those surrounding communities Thank you for giving Jolene and myself a way to honor our fathers memory by making this donation.
Along with being an avid firefighter, Tom Gallup loved dogs. Gerri Gallup said that she, as well as her dad, grew up with Dalmatians. In fact, she had inherited her dads Dalmatian after he died. She explained that back when firefighters used horse-pulled wagons, Dalmatians would keep other dogs from bothering the horses.
Gerri Gallup described her dad as My hero. She added He could do darn near anything. Things he did included: running a caf, owning theaters, carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, and phone installation. She said that one thing he did not delve into was auto mechanics. He would rely on Rural Chief Tracy Schroeder for that.
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She was a firefighter for a few years, until an injury forced her to quit. Her dad had been #34. After he retired, he gave her his old number. She was then #34. Gerris uncle, Dick Gallup, was also a firefighter. There were different reasons for choosing to be a firefighter. Gerri Gallup said For my Dad, Id say it was about service. For me, it was about being good in a crisis situation.
She talked a bit about what it was like to be a firefighter. The departments were made up of volunteers. Firefighting personal gear, which could cost thousands of dollars, was paid for by cities or townships. Being a firefighter in a small town could be harder than being one in a big city, as it was more likely that the firefighter would know a fire victim. Gerri Gallup remembered her dad talking about a horrible event hed been called out to. He later told her The absolute worst thing we did that night was we came back to the station, we put everything away, and we all went home. We should have sat down, and we should have talked about it. Witnessing catastrophes could take a toll.
Gerri Gallup shared a bit more about her dad. He was terribly stubborn. He was very funny, like tongue-in-cheek humor. He was a good cook. This was something that Jolene Gallup inherited. Gerri Gallup noted that the whole family, including their mother, was very stubborn. She added that her dad had a big heart, and was honest, almost to a fault.
The oxygen mask kits that were donated in the memory of Tom Gallup could save the lives of dear pets. Gerri Gallup said If you can save a life, even if its not human, you should do it.
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