As painful and devastating as tragedies may be, they also have a way of bringing out the best in people. At a time when it is easy to feel helpless, often people are eager to be of assistance to their neighbors in need. And sometimes those neighbors include four-legged friends.
A man who traveled to a neighborhood that had been destroyed by the wildfires in Los Angeles in January 2025 stumbled upon a lonely dog left behind in the debris of the devastation.
More from LittleThings: Group Of Good Samaritans Finds Lost Dog Floating In Florida Lake & Jump To The Rescue
Rick Miller told CNN that he was checking on a friend’s damaged home in Altadena, California, on January 9, 2025, when he saw an injured stray dog across the street. Miller immediately went to the dog, who has light fur and brown eyes, and laid a blanket over him while he and his friends thought up a more long-term solution.
He needed to get the animal out of the rubble and to a safe location. “It’s about caring for each other and like everyone needs help right now,” Miller said, tearing up.
More from LittleThings: Deputies And A Good Samaritan Save A Pregnant Cow From Drowning
“Sorry for crying but it’s really emotional seeing my friends lose their houses and people losing their animals and so [we] try to help each other out.”
Miller decided to bring the dog to the Pasadena Human Society so he could receive treatment. He said the wildfires have taken a toll on everyone and he just wanted to provide a simple act of kindness.
Miller has been more fortunate than his neighbors in the past few days, so he wanted to be of service. “Fortunately, our house was saved but our friends right across the street, their house is gone. That’s why you just wanna help your friends out, help your families out, help the animals out,” he explained.
The Pasadena Humane Society confirmed that it has received the dog and that he was treated for exposure to smoke and burns. It’s unclear if the dog belonged to one of the families forced to evacuate the area. The shelter has taken in 300 pets affected by the fire. As of January 10, 10 people have died in the fires. Thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.
The Palisades and Eaton fires have destroyed as many as 10,000 structures: homes, schools, and offices. The fires have scorched more than 35,000 acres in the Los Angeles area. According to Cal Fire, the Palisades and Eaton fires are among the top five destructive fires in LA’s history. The cause of both fires are still under investigation.
