Firefighter’s Helmet Camera Shows Amazing Rescue Of Dog Near Death In House Fire, Owner Can’t Pay Vet Bills [Video]
St. Tammany Fire District 3 Capt. Michael Geissler and his partner made their search and rescue through the flames and smoke inside a house fire in Lacombe, Louisiana, on Wednesday. They found a victim near death from smoke inhalation, but it wasn’t a person — it was Daisy, a dog. When they discovered her, she was heavily unconscious and breathing with agonal respirations, which means she was very close to death. Geissler said it was a surprising find, but he reacted quickly.
“It’s one of those things we don’t practice for, animals, not normally, so it kind of startles you, catches you off guard. But just like anything that’s breathing, we’ll grab the dog and bring it out.”
Two rookies were on their very first day at the job, and it was their very first house fire. St. Tammany Fire District 4 firefighters Johnny Bautista and Bryant Kensey were assigned one mission — to keep Daisy alive.
“When we first started giving him oxygen, we kind of looked at each other like I don’t know if he’s gonna make it man, and he was like keep trying so we moved him over to the shade. Just kept pumping him oxygen. He started come to, and he started blinking and moving and we looked at each other again and said man he’s gonna make it.”
“He” was a she, and her owner, Buena Silve, was overcome with emotion that her dog had been found and resuscitated in the heavily fire-damaged home. However, Daisy’s injuries are a heartache. Because Silve could not afford to pay for Daisy’s veterinary care, she had to give up custody of her dog. Silve is destitute, particularly now that her home has burned down. The cause of the fire has not been determined, and while Daisy is alive, Silve has lost her, and is devastated.
“When they found Daisy, I am just so appreciative to them that I just wish God’s blessings on all of them. They’re fantastic. I had to give her up, even though I didn’t want to. It’s like having to give away one of my children.”
Daisy is said to be housed at a local animal shelter and back to her happy, rambunctious self, but Silve has just seven days to reclaim her before she will be offered for adoption. Before Silve can get her back, she needs a place to stay and funds are needed to pay for the veterinary care that Daisy received after her severe bout of smoke inhalation. Silve’s hope is that donations may make this possible, or that someone may agree to board Daisy until she can find a home and get back on her feet financially.
[photo credit to wdsu]
