HSAA members in purr-fect rescue!

“This is my first time rescuing animals. They were adorable, super cute.  I got a little bit more emotional when I found out the other kitten had died. We were all just super angry when we found out that it was arson.” - Laura Kerr, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Edmonton (8 July 2013) - When you save people for a living, you might be forgiven for getting blasé about working with animals, but not Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) members.

Pair of kittens caught in house fire

From left, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Laura Kerr, EMT student Meagan Kaasa, supervisor Chris Chantler and paramedic Jason Beaudry of Edmonton Metro EMS treat a pair of two-week-old kittens at a fire in Riverdale.

The crew was on standby at the house fire on 90th Street and 101A Avenue, because firefighters were unsure at the time if any people were in the burning building. Fortunately, there were no human casualties, but one kitten died. Two were rescued by firefighters and handed over to the emergency medical team, who gave them oxygen and cleaned them.

They were taken to an emergency veterinary clinic, where they were reunited with another kitten found later.

First time rescuing an animal

“This is my first time rescuing animals. They were adorable, super cute,” says Kerr, who has been an EMT for three years. “I got a little bit more emotional when I found out the other kitten had died. We were all just super angry when we found out that it was arson.”

Firefighters determined that the fire was deliberately set. Edmonton police are investigating.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE