Ruger, the Rottweiler who miraculously survived a massive house fire in Hegins Township last week, is home from the vet and recovering.
On Monday, Aug. 26, fire totally destroyed the home of Kathy Salada and Vaughn Vesay along E. Main St. in Hegins Twp. Neither were home at the time but in the home were 9 dogs and 4 cats.
In addition to Ruger was his buddy, Remy, and their 7 puppies, who were just born the day prior, along with 4 cats.
Sadly, Remy, the 7 puppies, and the 4 cats all passed away in the fire. But somehow, Ruger survived.
Salada tells The Canary, Ruger was in the basement at the time of the fire. He’s normally not allowed down there because it’s damp but because it was so hot and she would only be gone from the house for a little bit, she kept the basement door open so he could go down there and keep cool laying on the floor.
Ruger’s decision to go down there at just the right time definitely saved his life.
“Thank God I opened the cellar door,” Salada says.
Salada says called off work that Monday to tend to the newborn puppies and she was running errands in the Minersville area and on her way home when she got a call from a friend who told her her house was on fire.
When Salada arrived at the scene, she says she only had one thought, “When I pulled in, I said, ‘Where are my dogs?'”
About an hour into the firefight, a neighbor alerted firefighters to movement under a basement window. It was Ruger.
Firefighters pulled Ruger from the debris and brought him to safety.
Salada, who had been resting in a nearby ambulance at the time, learned of Ruger’s discovery and says she immediately calmed down. She ran across the front yard of her burned home and greeted the dog she’s had for nearly 4 years.
Ruger, at the time, was already in the caring hands of firefighters, who had him resting and receiving oxygen. He immediately calmed down when he realized Salada was there.
After about a half-hour of that on-site treatment, Ruger was whisked away to Anthracite Animal Clinic and then taken to Hershey Animal Emergency Center for further treatment.
GoFundMe Established to Help Defray Vet Bill Costs for Ruger
Ruger was suffering from some bodily injuries but mostly from the effects of smoke inhalation. He was treated in Hershey into Wednesday, when he was finally allowed to return home.
Salada says they took Ruger back to the vet on Thursday because they were concerned about his breathing but they got the OK to take him home that day. He’s now being treated for pneumonia and taking an antibiotic.
“He’s breathing a lot better,” Salada says.
In total, his vet bill reached about $6,800. About half of that has been paid and her daughter-in-law has established a GoFundMe page to raise money to cover the rest of the bill and to help Salada and Vesay recover from the devastating fire that destroyed their home. You can find that GoFundMe page and donate through this link.
While the community rallies to help, Salada says she’s thankful for the efforts of those who helped at the scene last Monday, especially the firefighters, and to those who’ve already donated.
Salada says, “I wouldn’t have Ruger if it wasn’t for (the firefighters). I want to thank the community for pulling together.”
And she and Vesay are very happy they still have Ruger. Currently, they’re staying with her mother while they look for a place to rent.
Salada says she still hasn’t really had time to process the events of last Monday. She knows there will be time to grieve the loss of the other pets in the fire and is thankful Ruger will be there when that time comes.
In just the one day they were alive, Salada says Ruger was very helpful in locating the puppies when they’d get away from their mother, Remy.
“He’s very compassionate,” Salada says of Ruger. “He knows when I’m sad.”
She’s hopeful that his recovery is speedy so Ruger can get back to tearing apart squeaky toys and laying at her feet.
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