For his Eagle Scout project, eleven-year-old Payton Crawford is weaving supportive hammocks out of old fire hoses to help senior big cats.
The large hammocks provide older big cats, including lions, tigers and leopards, at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, with a comfortable place to lounge.
There are over 500 animals at the 10,000-acre refuge, which specializes in rescuing large carnivores from abusive situations.
Crawford acquires the old hoses from fire departments and produces hammocks in various sizes to accommodate different breeds. It takes him about two hours to create one hammock.
“It’s just something different that I wanted to try out,” the eighth-grader stated in an interview with CBS. “Give them a better life because they don’t have the luxury we do.”
This heartwarming story reminds us that people of all ages can help animals in creative and meaningful ways.
Watch this video to learn more about how Crawford puts the hammocks together.
