Fire Chief Agrees To Foster a Dog At The Firehouse after receiving a Phone Call About Rescuing Him

This good boy now has a home where to stay with the help of the Memphis community.

His story started with a call from airport police to Memphis animal services : they said that a dog named Juice was loose in the airport .

Memphis animal services reached out to an animal rescue in Michigan that’s agreed to take Juice, but he needed a foster home to stay in until they were able to make the trip to come to pick him up. That’s when MAS reached out to Gina Sweat, Memphis Fire Services director and a self-proclaimed dog lover.

After giving it some thought, Gina has been reviewing possible ways for the Memphis Fire Department and MAS to work together, she agreed to let Juice stay at a firehouse in South Lauderdale. Gina believes the partnership can be mutually beneficial, providing dogs in need with places to stay while boosting the morale of firefighters and making the firehouse feel more like home. 



MAS is also thrilled by the potential of the arrangement, which can help free up precious space so they can help as many animals as possible. Director Alexis Pugh noted, “The more we can get pets out into fosters, even short-term like this, it helps ease that burden.”

Gina also said the idea has inspired others, and that she’s received phone calls from firehouses nationwide asking how they set up the partnership, hoping to do the same in their respective areas.

All parties involved are hoping that this marks the beginning of something much bigger. They plan to work out the kinks in the partnership locally so that more animals can be fostered at firehouses in the future.

Juice is enjoying his time at the firehouse. All of the food and supplies for his care have been donated, and MFD is encouraging people to stop by and play with him. 

source  WREG Memphis