A wonderful sequel to yesterday’s post.
Needs no introduction from me except to say that this wonderful account of Izzy’s loyalty was first seen on the Mother Nature Network site.
ooOOoo
Dog stranded by wildfire waits for her family at burned-down home
Christian Cotroneo
October 13, 2017.
When the Weaver family woke up to flames outside their Santa Rosa home — a region ravaged this week by deadly wildfires — there wasn’t much time.
They had to get out.
But sometime during that panicked retreat from the house on Wikiup Bridge Way, the family dog, Izzy, bolted away.
Trying to find her amid the chaos of fire proved too dangerous.
And so this family, like countless others in California’s wine country, left more than just their home behind. When they drove through sheer walls of flame and across an uncertain wooden bridge to get to safety — they left their hearts back on Wikiup Bridge Way.
It turned out, it was the one thing they couldn’t leave behind.
A day and a half later, while the area was still smoldering and roads were still closed, Jack Weaver and Patrick Widen made the nearly-three-mile trek back to the house.
“It was incredibly important,” Weaver, who grew up in that house, tells MNN. “My mother was a wreck for having gone through that. Nobody wanted us to go back because they were worried we would get injured.”
‘I can see …’
In a video of their return, posted on Facebook and shared below, you can hear the men laboring to catch their breath amid blackened trees and still-crackling ruins.
“Izzy!” Weaver is heard calling into the smoky veil. Over and over again.
They push farther and farther ahead. “Izzy!”
“Almost to the house,” Weaver says in the video. “I can see … the gate. The gate’s still standing.”
A moment later, he adds, “I don’t see the house at all. F$#k.”
It had burned to the ground.
But someone was still standing.
“Izzy’s here!” Weaver calls, his voice choked with emotion. “Izzy!”
“Oh my God! Come here, baby!”
The giant dog bounces into view, her tail whirring like a helicopter.
“When she same running around — you can probably hear it in my voice — we were shocked and ecstatic,” Weaver says later. “I wish I could have filmed longer, the happy reunion, but I was so happy I dropped my phone.”
Since the family posted the video, it’s been shared more than 4,000 times. Maybe it’s a testament to the need for all of us to find a happy ending amid heartache.
In any case, Izzy is where she belongs now — in the arms of her family — a testament to faith under fire.
“She didn’t have a burn on her,” Weaver says. “It definitely lifted my family’s spirits.”
ooOOoo
YouTube also carried a video:
Well done, Izzy, and Jean and I send you fondest hugs!
So glad Izzy’s owners found her. Terrific that she stayed at the house. These types of stories are truly wonderful to hear. Thanks for sharing, Paul!
My very great pleasure, Susan!
Izzy is a lucky, and plucky dog… Such a good ending to an otherwise tragic story.
Very much so, Colette.
I have mixed feelings about this. Granted, I do not (cannot) understand the chaos that was happening, but the thought of leaving my dog to the flames is unimaginable to me.
John, that flicked through my head when I first read this account. Quickly followed by the realization that here, with our 6 dogs, 3 cats, 4 horses and 2 parakeets we don’t have a ‘Plan B’. Haven’t a clue in fact!
I know what you mean. We’ve often thought about how in hell would we (safely) move 11 animals in case of an emergency.
Well when you come up with the answer don’t keep it to yourself! 😊
Crying tears of joy for this family! So sorry for the tragic loss of their home and belongings but so glad they are all safe and together again.
Yes, a very fortunate outcome for Izzy and the family.
I’m happy to read about the positive ending of this story, Paul.
We all need these sorts of stories. Albeit losing one’s home from fire isn’t a walk in the park!
I can only agree, Paul.
What I meant was more, that they were lucky to find their dog alive and not damaged.
That was clear to me in your first response.
I continue to not understand how people who love dogs can say to others the following statement that I have read more than once and I find cruel. “I cannot understand people just abandoning their animals in times of crisis”.
I have never been in a situation where I had to leave my animals behind to fend for themselves and I can’t imagine life without animals at home. But I also can imagine a disaster where it’s a choice of losing my live to keep my animals with me or leaving without them. It would break my heart and I might feel like I’m abandoning them (Abandon, relinquish, renounce mean to give up all concern in something. The dictionary says that “Abandon means to give up or discontinue any further interest in something because of discouragement, weariness, distaste, or the like: to abandon one’s efforts.” In no way would that be my heartfelt intention.
I am also wondering how people who do leave there animals in a disaster are able to locate their animals after they are picked up and taken to other parts of the country especially if they are not micro-chipped. I would imagine that they are taken to more places than the Humane Society. I can only imagine the heartache that must happen with this awful experience.
Well first a warm welcome. Your reply just underlines how very difficult it is to comprehend one’s world at a time when everything familiar is turning into a nightmare. Unless we have lived through such an event we have no idea of what it brings.
Thank you for posting this happy ending Paul 💛
We just can’t have too many happy endings! 😍
I saw this on the news and it did my heart good to know she had survived the flames. Especially with how bad those fires were. Thanks for sharing more details on this.
Only Izzy will know the truth of what she went through.
Such a great feel good story in a midst of such utter destruction.
Absolutely! Love hearing that from you. 😍