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.
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”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.
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