California Man Who Lost His Home In Wildfire Finds His Dog Alive In The Rubble Five Days Later

One of the few good stories coming out of California right now. Wildfires have been raging out of control in the Los Angeles area for the past week, with at least three fires currently burning near the city. The largest of the fires, the Palisades fire, has already burned over 20,000 acres and destroyed more than 5,000 structures. The fire is currently only 11% contained after starting on January 7, with firefighting efforts hampered by strong Santa Ana winds and dry conditions, as well as a lack of water in fire hydrants and reservoirs. So far, 11 people have already been killed in the fire, with that number likely to grow as officials move into areas that have been devastated by the blazes and are able to search for victims. Of course it’s not just people affected by the fires: The Pasadena Humane Society has been sharing heartbreaking photos of animals that have been brought in and are in need of assistance, including animals with burns and breathing issues from smoke inhalation.

The toll on animals is only going to continue to grow as the fires spread, and pet owners return to their burned down homes in desperate search for their furry friends who didn’t make it out. And one homeowner recently had an emotional reunion with his dog after returning to his home that was destroyed in the Palisades fire. Casey Colvin wasn’t home when the evacuation order for his neighborhood was issued. Distraught, he sought help from a firefighter to go to his house and rescue his beloved dogs, Oreo and Tika Tika Tika. While the firefighter was able to rescue one of the pups, apparently Oreo was nowhere to be found. Colvin said the dogs were rescues, and Oreo had behavioral issues and was believed to have run out of the house. Colvin was understandably distraught when he realized that one of his dogs was still missing. But after the fire ripped through his home, a neighbor shared a photo of a dog believed to be Oreo that gave him hope that his beloved pet had somehow survived the blaze. Well today, Colvin was able to return to what’s left of his home that was destroyed in the fire – and cameras were rolling as Oreo came running back to him. Colvin was understandably emotional during the reunion, and Oreo seemed pretty happy himself. It’s a miracle that the dog managed to survive five days amidst the rubble of his former home, but it looks like he didn’t go too far and returned back to his home even after it was destroyed, no doubt patiently waiting for his owner to return. The whole thing is heartbreaking when you think of not only the human lives that were lost and the homes that were destroyed, but the animals that were affected by these fires. There’s no doubt Colvin is upset about losing his home, but if I’d have to guess, he’s just happy that both of his dogs are safe and back with him where they belong.