Selfless firefighter makes heroic attempt to save kitten's life.

Today’s post doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending, but it does have a very strong and inspiring message.

Earlier this year, in July of 2013, a YouTube video of Cory Kalanick, a Fresno California firefighter, went viral.

Kalanick entered a burning home, searching for anyone who might need help. Inside the house lay an unconscious kitten. Kalanick immediately grabbed the tiny animal, rushed outside, and, using a child’s oxygen mask, began working to resuscitate him. After using a combination of oxygen, cool water and massage, he managed to revive the kitten. All of this is caught on the GoPro camera attached to his helmet.

Here is the video from Kalanick’s helmet, recut as an ad for GoPro HD Hero3.



Sadly, the kitten - which GoPro had dubbed “Lucky” - didn’t make it. He was taken to an emergency veterinarian and passed away later that night due to lung damage sustained in the fire.

However, Kalanick’s actions show just how compassionate a person can be; sometimes our efforts fail, but that doesn’t make our struggles to help others any less worthwhile. As Redditor Sternutation posts, "[W]hat’s crucial here is that, to my knowledge, GoPro wasn’t using the footage to show a firefighter ensure the kitten life a long and happy life, but rather show the great work the firefighter did in his/hers efforts to save the kitten."

If you have pets of your own, then you know that they are so much more than animals – they are valued members of your family. Most fire departments are not equipped with gear tailored specifically for cats and dogs. Please consider donating to charities like Invisible Fence’s Project Breathe, whose Pet Oxygen Mask Donation Program seeks to supply every fire departments with a pet oxygen mask kit nationwide.