A California man cried tears of joy after being reunited with his rescue dog, Oreo, whom he feared was lost amid the devastating Pacific Palisades fire.
NBC News’ Liz Kreutz shared on her Instagram Jan. 11 that resident Casey Colvin of the Pacific Palisades, where the largest wildfire is currently burning in Southern California with only 11% containment, was searching for his two dogs.
“I met Casey Colvin the very first day of the fire. He was in distress trying to get back to his home in the Palisades to get his two dogs, Oreo and Tika Tika Tika,” Kreutz said.
She clarified on X that Colvin wasn’t home when the evacuation order was put in place and was “desperately trying to get back home to get them.”
Kreutz said a firefighter spoke to Colvin and went to his home to see if he could retrieve his dogs. The firefighter returned with one dog, Tika Tika Tika, but said Oreo had run out of the house and was missing.
“Casey told me that hours later his home burned to the ground. Had that firefighter not offered to go get the dogs, both of them would have been trapped inside when the flames came,” she said.
After Oreo escaped, Colvin’s friend spotted the dog in the neighborhood and took a picture. Kreutz posted a flyer that Colvin created for Oreo and a video of a tearful interview with the emotional dog owner.
“I literally rescued him off the street. How do I get to my house?” Colvin asked Kreutz.
In another video, he held Tika Tika Tika close to his chest and said he was using an AirTag he had for Oreo to try to find him.
On Jan. 12, Kreutz posted an update. Colvin said Oreo had been spotted twice and that in one instance “he was seen sleeping in the rubble of a neighbors home.” Colvin stopped by his burned residence and left food and water in case Oreo returned. He decided to work with a professional dog trapper, as well.
A few hours later, his efforts paid off.
“OREO HAS BEEN FOUND!!!” Kreutz captioned an emotional video of Colvin calling after Oreo, who ran down a hill and under a fence before being scooped up in his owner’s arms.
“Oh my God! You’re alive! Oh, honey!” Colvin tearfully said as held the dog and pumped his fist in the air. He continued to cheer and run around with the pup.