Courtesy of Mark E. Brady, PGFD PIO.

When Prince George’s County firefighters rescued and revived two chihuahuas—Mylo and Otis—from a house fire in Bowie, Md., hearts were warmed. However, the good news didn’t last as one of the two chihuahuas eventually succumbed to his injuries and passed away.

The Prince George’s County Fire and EMS Department reports that the dog who didn’t make it died because the family didn’t have the financial resources to get proper veterinary resources to care for the dog. Although the PG County Fire and EMS worked with the Department of Public Information Office to find a vet that would care for the dogs, it was too late for one of them.

As result of this incident, the PG County Fire and EMS Department and the Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals of Anne Arundel County are working together to create the “PGFD and SPCA Sparky Fire Fund,” which will “allow a family pet in similar circumstances to the Bowie incident to be taken to select 24-hour veterinarians and receive immediate care.” The veterinary costs would be covered by the Sparky Fire Fund, which will be managed by the SPCA. Here’s more about the fund from the PG County Fire and EMS Department:

Now, while battling a fire and a pet is found to be suffering from injury or smoke inhalation and the family does not have the financial means or is not available to care for the pet themselves, authorization will be given to have the pet taken to one of the selected 24-hour vets to have treatment initiated. The “PGFD SPCA Sparky Fire Fund” will ensure care is initiated and payment guaranteed to the vet.

We need your support. Our goal is to meet the expenses of pet owners who find themselves in situations similar to that of Mylo’s and Otis’ owner. Your generous donations will provide immediate veterinary care for pets affected by house fires in Prince George’s County.

And if you’d like to donate, go here.