Monica Plumb, an 11 year old sixth grader from Powhatan County, Virginia, has been awarded United Animal Nation’s prestigious Animals’ Choice Award for donating pet oxygen masks to 22 fire departments in the United States and Canada. Monica has also received awards from PETA and American Humane.

Last year, Monica began raising money to buy oxygen masks specially designed for dogs, cats and small animals for her local fire department. What started locally has become an international enterprise. To date, Monica has assembled more than 40 mask kits -- which include reusable masks in small, medium and large sizes and a carrying case – and donated them to fire departments in nine states and one Canadian province. She has 30 more kits on order.

Monica started her fund raising campaign after seeing a local news story about a household fire in which a dog was saved by a firefighter using a pet oxygen mask. Monica has used collection cans, fliers, yard sales, her school talent show and a Web site her father built to raise money for the masks. The cash grants that accompany her awards will help Monica expand her efforts to help even more fire departments.

Monica wants to become a veterinarian when she grows up. She is currently a volunteer at Richmond Animal League, where she works up front with the cats feeding, cleaning and playing with them. She has eight pets of her own: a cat, four rats and three fish.  

Monica says, “It would make me so happy to know one of my oxygen masks helped save a pet's life.” In July, firefighters in Bonner Springs, Kansas used a mask Monica donated to save a three-year-old cat named Cracker.

Visit Monica’s website at www.petmask.com to learn more about her program and to sponsor a pet mask kit for your own local fire department.