MADISON, Wis. (AP) - An 11-year-old boy from DeForest sent a letter to Madison Fire Chief Steven Davis urging the fire department to take more precautions when it comes to saving four-legged friends.
As a result, the Madison Fire Department now has two new oxygen masks specially designed for animals, and Finn Sullivan said his goal is to make sure every fire department in Wisconsin has these masks, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
He said he told his mom, Amanda Sullivan, about his goal and sent emails to every fire department in Wisconsin - more than 700. He has heard back from 39 departments.
“He loves animals, and he just wants to help them,” Amanda said.
Davis announced the purchase of the new masks recently along with Finn and his family. He said each mask costs $80 to $100 and comes with a small, medium and large size to fit animals ranging in size from a mouse to a newborn horse.
The two masks are now kept in the fire department’s command car 31, which Davis said responds to all structure fires in the city of Madison.
Finn, who has two German shepherds of his own, said his love for animals led him to do some research. He found that 40,000 pets die every year from house fires. He then learned not all fire departments carry oxygen masks for pets and decided he wanted to change that. He said he “will not stop” until every fire department has pet oxygen masks of their own.
“I wanted to take it to the next level, helping animals,” Finn said. “They’ve been there when people haven’t for me, and when I’m sad, they help me feel better.”
Finn said he has a running list of all the fire departments in the state and will update it as more of them start using the masks. The list is also on a Facebook page his family helped him set up that has more information about his efforts.
Davis said the Madison Fire Department used to have pet oxygen masks some 10 years ago, but didn’t replace them once they expired. Finn’s message, he said, was a “good reminder” to get the masks back in the department.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.