1 Couple Returned to the Remains of Their Home After CA Fire to Find Their Dog Waiting For Them

After losing their Paradise, CA, home in the Camp Fire, Andrea Gaylord and her partner were desperately clinging to the hope that their dog Madison was still alive. Although Madison's owners were forced to evacuate without him, a local nonprofit — K9 Paw Print Rescue — stepped up to help the owners reunite with their pup.

"Madison's parents were unable to get home to him when the Camp Fire spread," K9 Paw Print Rescue wrote on Facebook. "They hoped and prayed he would be OK. When they finally got clearance to go back to the lot where their house once stood . . . Madison was waiting there for them as if he were protecting his former home. Never give up!!"

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Andrea and her partner had made it to safety, but they couldn't stop thinking about Madison and their other dog, Miguel, who got left behind. Fortunately, a volunteer named Shayla Sullivan was able to act as the pups' guardian angel. After finding Miguel and returning him to Andrea, Shayla then placed an article of Andrea's clothing where her home once stood to "keep Madison's hope alive until his people could return."

Luckily, her idea worked, and the family was finally reunited a month later.

"Well, I'm so happy to report that Andrea was allowed to return to her property today and there Madison was," Shayla wrote in the comments section of the post. "He had stayed to protect what was left of his home, and never gave up on his people! I'm so happy I'm crying as I write this! He didn't give up through the storms or the fire! A long month it must have been for him!"