As the Los Angeles wildfires continue to ravage homes and communities, internet users have been reduced to tears by a dog that was found injured in the rubble.
After agreeing to go with a friend to see what was left of her home following the Eaton fire, Lauren Wong, 42, didn’t know what to expect. Understandably, she was there to support her friend, telling Newsweek that she “couldn’t let her go alone.”
Her friend’s home had been burned down by the fires, which started on January 7. As the pair looked around the area, something moved in the rubble, and they spotted a dog who had been left behind.
The pup was covered in dust and smoke, and Wong saw so much “sadness and pain” in his eyes. She initially named him Mendo, as he was found in the Mendocino area of Altadena.
The dog, named Canelo, was found in the rubble of a home in Altadena. The 7-year-old managed to survive the Eaton fire.
@lilmama_lilpapas / TikTok
“My girlfriend was walking up her driveway to see the extent of the fire to her home, and she came across him in what would be her backyard,” Wong said. “In hysterics looking at everything, she pulled herself together and said we have to save him.”
Wong continued: “He sustained burns on all four of his paws and mouth area from what we were able to see. He was not able to stand and was moaning and growling at us.”
Along with several other residents and volunteers, they managed to get the dog up, and he was taken to Pasadena Humane Society. The shelter is providing the dog with treatment for his burns and smoke inhalation.
Wong shared footage of the dog’s rescue on TikTok (@lilmama_lilpapas) and it went viral with more than 114,000 views and over 10,700 likes in a matter of days. The clip shows several neighbors wrapping the canine in a blanket and rallying around to support him.
After getting the dog to safety, Wong also found an owl among the rubble of a burned down home. Its feathers appeared burned and he couldn’t fly, so he was also taken to the shelter for treatment.
Much to Wong’s surprise, her videos attracted plenty of attention online, and internet users were able to connect her with the dog’s owner. After verifying his status, Wong contacted him to inform him that his pup, named Canelo, had survived and was at the shelter.
“The owner messaged me, stating that he had gone looking for him at the Pasadena Humane Society and was able to find him,” Wong told Newsweek.
“From what I was told, he went to get his dogs in his Altadena home, and he put them in the back of his truck, but with all the smoke and embers flying, Canelo got scared and bolted right back to the fire. At that point, the owner just couldn’t see where he was or went, so he had to leave him.”
The 7-year-old dog will remain at the shelter for a few weeks longer to ensure he makes a full recovery before he can return to his owner. Wong added that when Canelo’s owner finally reunited with him, there was “so much relief” and the dog had “never been happier.”
The first video of Canelo’s rescue has generated more than 265 comments on TikTok so far. Many social-media users were distraught for the poor dog who endured so much pain.
One comment reads: “Thank you for helping these poor scared animals. May they be reunited with their families.”
Another TikTok user wrote: “My heart hurts for these innocents angels.”
A third person added: “what a miracle he survived.”
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