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one hundred dollars per kit to the South Santa Clara County Fire Department, and offered training, led by Dr. Griffin, to the firefighters. Not long after the training took place, other community organizations voiced their interest in the life-saving kits includ- ing Santa Clara County Animal Care and Control, and Morgan Hill Police Department Animal Control. Five more kits were donated. By 2010, Moriyama was receiving requests from all across the United States, and she realized the time had come to incorporate Air For Paws into a non-profit organization. To date, Air For Paws has provided 1,011 kits to 43 states, and last year they went international when the organization began supplying to Old Dawgs & Pups, an organization comprised of military war dog handlers from the Vietnam era who provide support for dog handlers down- range (soldiers employed in a war zone). Bill Cummings, of Tucson Arizona, coordinator of the organization, read about Air For Paws and gave Moriyama a call. 54 ”First and foremost, Terry would not sell them (the kits) to me. She said, ‘I will donate them to you, but I will not sell you those,’” Cummings said. “When I got off the phone I thought I’d found an angel. This is something you can put your hands on, and it can bring a dog back to life, this is just amazing.” To date, Air For Paws has provided 420 units for Old Dawgs & Pups, which has shipped them to 115 detachments and treatment facilities for Military Working Dog Teams serving in the Air Force, Army, Navy and the Coast Guard. “We hope this equipment never has to be used,” Cummings said. “We’re placing our bet on zero, hoping they never have to be used. But should they be needed, the handlers are trained, and they’ve got this surgical grade equipment.” With orders for the kits continuing to grow, Moriyama realized she needed additional funding to continue. In 2010 Air For Paws’ first official fundraiser, the Bow Wow Luau, was held at the Gilroy GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN JULY / AUGUST 2016 Municipal Golf Course. The event raised $5,900. This year’s event takes place on Friday, August 26 th , offering participants a scramble golf tournament, dinner, a raffle, and prizes awarded to the best golfers. Every February, A Feline Affair, the organizations second yearly fundraiser, is held at Rosy’s on the Beach, where half of all the proceeds are donated to the organization. A volunteer for Air For Paws since its conception, Jan Dean, continues to be inspired by her friend’s dedication and love for family and friends, who are aware of Moriyama’s conviction and passion. “How she has been able to start a non-profit organization, and grow it to the point of recognition by our military to help save our warrior dogs, run a successful real estate business, be devoted to her family, and make friends with everyone she meets, leaves me in awe of her,” Dean said. All four-legged creatures across the United States, and the world, that are alive today due to her inexhaustible efforts, feel exactly the same. gmhtoday.com