A dog’s loyalty to their owner is a well-known fact, with clear-cut evidence of such devotion seen across the internet. Real-life accounts of dog owners testify to a dog’s instinct to protect and care for their families, especially in times of crisis. In the spirit of celebrating this animal’s great allegiance to man, a beautiful story of love and dedication inspired many despite the horrors of the recent California wildfires.
Andrea Gaylord, who lived in Paradise, had to move quickly as the fires quickly destroyed their entire town. In her panicked state, she inadvertently left her two guard dogs behind, Miguel and Madison. She believed her dogs could look after themselves, always praying that they will be reunited soon.
For weeks, California firefighters battled against the raging fires until they gained considerable control. Several volunteer animal rescuers were soon given a chance to enter the devastated areas, hoping to find lost and surviving pets left behind. One rescuer located Andrea’s dog Miguel, but Madison was still nowhere to be seen.
Rescuer Shayla Sullivan left food and water by Andrea’s destroyed property, instinctively knowing the dog was probably still within the area. She also placed clothes with Miguel’s smell on strategic locations around the burnt house. When the evacuation order was lifted, Andrea and her family went straight for their house to check if Madison was waiting for them to return.
Sure enough, the brave pup was found sitting guard over what was once their house. Andrea had never been more proud of her incredible pups for being extremely brave and fearless, despite the dangerous circumstances surrounding them. Their initial instinct was to protect their family’s home, and that was what they did.
The fires burned for 18 days, causing tremendous damage to lives and property. The fact that the two dogs had minimal injuries was short of a miracle, something Andrea was genuinely grateful for.
Video courtesy of ABC10 via Youtube
