Foundation Gift to Support Melbourne Fire's Therapy K9
Published on October 14, 2026
The Sue Bassett Foundation has made a gift of $6,000 to help support the Melbourne Fire Department’s therapy dog, Rigs.
Rigs is a specially trained therapy dog who is an important part of Melbourne Fire’s Peer Support Team. The Peer Support Team is a group of trained firefighters who provide peer-to-peer counseling and support to help their colleagues cope with the many difficult and tragic incidents they respond to on a regular basis.
Rigs became part of the Peer Support Team in 2025 and has continued to provide important support to the team and the department as a whole.
“He is regularly at the station with the crews and has a way of bringing people together, especially after difficult calls,” said Lieutenant Kayla Burri, Rigs’s handler and one of the leaders of the Peer Support Team. “The program has continued to grow, and this donation will help us make sure we have the proper equipment and resources to keep Rigs safe, healthy, and able to do what he does best: support our firefighters.”
The Sue Bassett Foundation was created by Sue Bassett, an animal advocate, and longtime Brevard County resident. Ms. Bassett passed away on November 16, 2023.
“When we learned about Rigs and the important role he plays with the Melbourne Fire Department and in the community, we felt this was a wonderful opportunity to honor Sue’s memory,” said Meredith Green, Ms. Bassett’s niece and a member of the foundation’s board of directors. “Supporting Rigs brings together two things that would have meant a great deal to her — helping those who serve our community and caring for animals.”
The $6,000 donation will be used to purchase several essential items for Rigs and the K9 response program, including a specialized ramp for K9 response vehicles, a K9-specific mask, and other supplies needed to safely care for and support Rigs while he is working with the crews.
“We are incredibly grateful to Ms. Bassett for her generosity and to the Sue Bassett Foundation for recognizing the value of what Rigs brings to our department,” said Lt. Burri. “Her gift is not just helping us purchase equipment; it is helping us build a program that supports the mental wellbeing and overall welfare of the men and women who serve Melbourne.”
“We hope this contribution helps support Rigs and the important work he and the Melbourne Fire Department do each day,” Ms. Green said. “It means a great deal to see Sue’s name and generosity continue to make a positive difference in our community.”