Owner, dog reunited after deadly blaze
As the Camp Fire raged, killing at least 85 people and displacing thousands more in Northern California, Madison waited patiently.
The Anatolian shepherd’s owner, Andrea Gaylord, was not able to get to her home in Paradise, Calif., when the fire began to spread Nov. 8 — meaning Madison was left behind. For weeks, all Gaylord could do was pray for Madison’s safety, according to California-based animal rescue organization K9 Paw Print Rescue.
Shayla Sullivan, a volunteer with the rescue organization, had already helped locate Madison’s brother, Miguel, in a different city. But Madison was even more difficult to find. Sullivan spotted Madison a few times in a canyon, apparently guarding territory and put out fresh food and water regularly in hopes that the dog would turn up, according to a Facebook post by Sullivan.
When the evacuation order was lifted last week and Gaylord went back to the property — which had been decimated by the fire — her prayers were answered: Madison was there, seemingly protecting what little remained of his family’s home.
Soon afterward, Madison was reunited with Miguel for the first time since the fire broke out, ABC10 reported.
An emotional Gaylord said in an interview with the network that she was overcome with joy to see Madison waiting for her. She also expressed how grateful she was to Sullivan.
“Imagine the loyalty of hanging in through the worst of circumstances and being here waiting,” Gaylord told ABC10, adding, “You could never ask for better animals.”