Thursday April 2nd 2026
Meghan Ambrozevich-Blair with her dog Milo. Photo courtesy of Fostering Compassion.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
An East Lothian charity is helping save pets on a tiny Channel island by providing life saving equipment for its fire crew.
Firefighters on the Isle of Sark have to use a tractor to get to fires on the car-free island where the population is around 550 people and pets face a 45 minute boat ride to Guernsey to see the nearest vet.
And when they asked Fostering Compassion to help by donating one of their Smokey Paws resuscitation kits, the charity was delighted to step in.
The kits, which are designed to provide oxygen to pets at the scene of fires, were inspired by vet student Meghan Ambrozevich-Blair, who was working to produce the first kits when she died after being hit by a truck travelling the wrong way on a dual carriageway near her Dunbar home nearly seven years ago.
Meghan was an enthusiastic supporter of the organisation and nearly 50 kits have been provided to fire crews across Scotland in her memory.
Now the charity’s latest report on activities has revealed it has also given one of the kits to the Sark crew after they saw a new article on their success.
Lesley Winton, BEM, founder of Fostering Compassion, said: “On the Isle of Sark the fire engine is towed by a tractor because it is car free. We were delighted to help and they were so grateful to have this life saving equipment donated to them.”
Fostering Compassion supports vulnerable children and young people through humane education providing workshops and one to one sessions, for children and families as well as supporting work in schools.
Set up in 2013 it has established support using the experience of rescue animals and therapets to tap into children and young people’s empathy and emotions.
The most recent report covering its last two years of work revealed more than 300 children and families were supported by Fostering Compassion which does not receive any local authority funding, along with nearly 100 one to one sessions being held.
The charity is currently undergoing a refurbishment of its Woodland Haven room at its Ormiston base where children and young people are given the support they need.
The room will be open for visitors later this month when Fostering Compassion is holding two open days at the centre on Sunday, April 26, and Monday, April 27 between 10am and 3pm. For more details on the organisation go to fosteringcompassion.org
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