Fond du Lac Firefighters Nab PETA Award for Saving Cat From House Fire
‘No Matter Which Way You Look At It … We’re Here to Save Lives’: Brave Firefighters Navigated Thick Smoke to Rescue Trapped Cat
For Immediate Release:
March 23, 2018
Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382
A Compassionate Fire Department Award is on its way from PETA to Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue, which responded to a house fire at 30 E. 10th St. on Monday afternoon. After putting out the fire, the firefighters learned from the family that their cat, Steven, was still inside the house. They searched through the heavy smoke until they found Steven, who was struggling to breathe. They rushed her outside and administered oxygen with a special animal oxygen mask. She was treated for smoke inhalation and a possible burned paw at the local humane society before being reunited with her family yesterday. “No matter which way you look at it our personnel are here for a reason, that’s why … we’re here to save lives,” said Fond du Lac firefighter Todd Janquart about the rescue. “Pets are important to their owners and we’ll do everything we can to support that.”
“A family’s beloved cat was spared a horrible death because of these firefighters’ commitment to helping anyone in strife, regardless of species,” says PETA Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “PETA is recognizing the Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue team for its kindness, bravery, and quick action, which we hope will inspire people everywhere to come to the aid of animals in need.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—encourages all animal guardians to watch PETA’s fire-safety video and to post signs on their doors or windows in order to alert rescue workers to the presence of dogs, cats, and other animal companions in the home. Families can order stickers from the PETA Catalog or make their own.
The fire department will receive a package of PETA’s fire-alert stickers, a framed certificate, an award letter, a box of delicious vegan cookies, and a copy of The Engine 2 Diet—a Texas firefighter’s 28-day plan for staying in prime firefighting shape by eating plant-based meals.
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
