Dog badly burned in CA wildfire was ‘lucky to be alive.’ Now, he’s found a home

Less than a day after the onset of a deadly California wildfire, a badly burned dog arrived at an animal shelter.

Riley spent months healing in the wake of the Eaton Fire in Altadena, which began Jan. 7, burned 14,021 acres and left 18 dead, Pasadena Humane said in a July 5 Facebook post.

He was ready for adoption in May, McClatchy News previously reported.

“It was incredibly moving to watch this Eaton Fire survivor recover and thrive until finally, he was ready to find his new home,” the nonprofit shelter said. “And now, Riley has found his perfect match.”

Users on Facebook were quick to share their excitement over Riley’s adoption, with one calling it a “beautiful story.”

“So happy he’s settled in his new home with his new family,” one user commented. “He certainly deserves it.”

When Riley first arrived, “he had burns all over his body, including all four of his paws, and was suffering from smoke inhalation,” the shelter said.

“He was lucky to be alive,” the nonprofit said.

As his first photo from the shelter made rounds “around the world,” Riley became “a powerful representation of the fire’s devastating effect on the animals,” the shelter said.

Slowly, “with the help of our compassionate and caring staff,” he began to heal from “his physical and emotional trauma,” the shelter said.

Before adopting him, Riley’s new owner “met with him several times, making sure it was the right fit — both for her, and for her other husky at home,” the shelter said.

“When Riley finally jumped into her car, it was clear: he was ready for this next chapter,” the nonprofit said.

Riley’s new owner told the shelter he’s settling into his new home.

“Riley likes to watch me work or sleep next to me while I’m in Teams meetings,” she told the nonprofit. “Thankfully, he doesn’t micromanage.”

For the shelter, his adoption marks a turning point.

“As the face of the Eaton Fire, his adoption was a huge milestone,” the shelter said.

Altadena is about a 15-mile drive northeast from downtown Los Angeles.

Daniella Segura

McClatchy DC

Daniella Segura is a national real-time reporter with McClatchy. Previously, she’s worked as a multimedia journalist for weekly and daily newspapers in the Los Angeles area. Her work has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association. She is also an alumnus of the University of Southern California and UC Berkeley.