‘Miracle’ Melrose pup returns home to hero’s welcome
The lionhearted lap dog whose barking gave her Melrose owners a head start on a fast-moving fire that gutted their home of 10 years Sunday morning has been returned to their loving arms — along with an outpouring of new toy donations fit for a hero.
“She was so excited to see us. We have to watch her for the next 24 to 36 hours, but right now she’s good and she’s with us,” Adeline Ciccarello said Monday after Emmie, a nearly 2-year-old Shih TzuYorkie mix, was released from the overnight care of a veterinarian. Against all odds, the young Shorkie survived the blaze by taking cover under her favorite couch until veteran Melrose firefighter Paul Lepore found and carried her to safety.
Emmie on Monday was reunited with her sister, who lives with neighbors on First Street.
“All our friends are buying her special toys to replace the ones that she lost,” said Ciccarello, a second-grade teacher at the Hugh Roe O’Donnell Elementary School in East Boston. “We’re very blessed. It’s just a miracle she’s alive. I’m just so grateful. She’s back to normal.”
Ciccarello’s husband, Joseph, is a math and business teacher at Revere High School. He also coaches hockey and softball, she said.
The couple has two daughters, but neither were home Sunday morning when flames broke out about 7 a.m. in the rear of the house, their mom said. It will be at least a year before their 2 ½-story house is inhabitable again, she said.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page started by the Ciccarello’s friends and neighbors had raised nearly $40,000 by 4 p.m. Monday after setting a goal of just $5,000.
“Everyone has reached out,” Ciccarello said. “People are coming out of the woodwork and showing such great support. I have hundreds of bags of clothes, food, jackets, boots, gloves … gift cards. This community is so wonderful. I’m overwhelmed with love.”