Airman, 3 Dogs Ready to Reunite After House Fire

TAMPA, FL — Three dogs seriously injured in a December fire get to start the New Year off on the right paw.

Cache, Cyl and Emma will be reunited with their owner, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Alex Rodriguez, on New Year’s Day.

Cache, a 2-year-old German shepherd, Emma, 7-year-old Jack Russel terrier, and Cyl, a 1-year-old chow mix, suffered severe smoke inhalation during a Dec. 18 fire at Rodriguez’s West Carmen Street rental home.

After the three were rescued from the home, Rodriguez took them to BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Tampa. They’ve been there ever since, recovering from the ordeal.

“They’re doing amazingly well,” Rodriguez was quoted by BluePearl in a release announcing his pack’s impending return to him. “It’s a complete turnaround from the night I first brought them in.”

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During their time at BluePearl, the dogs received oxygen and also antibiotics to ward off pneumonia. While they were technically healthy enough to leave the hospital’s intensive care unit on Dec. 28, they’ve been cared for at the hospital longer because Rodriguez needed to find a new home after losing everything in the fire.

The dogs’ outcome illustrates the benefits of collaborative care, BluePearl’s Dr. Miryam Reems said. The veterinary hospital at 3000 Busch Lake Blvd. has a variety of specialists on hand with expertise in such areas as radiology, internal medicine and cardiology. These specialists came together to give Cyl, Emma and Cache a fighting chance, Reems said.

“You think that you’re getting one doctor but you’re really getting 50 because we work as a team,” said Reems, who is board certified in critical care. “Plus, as an emergency hospital, we’re open 24-hours a day. So we’re able to offer around the clock monitoring, which is necessary in a case like this.”

The trio of patients was also assisted by Frankie’s Friends, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping provide life-saving treatments to pets whose owners cannot afford the care. So far, an estimated $10,000 has been raised by Frankie’s Friends to offset the costs of care for Emma, Cyl and Cache. Fundraising efforts continue.

“I can’t tell you how thankful all of us are,” said Rodriguez. “It’s crazy to see how many people came together to help save us. None of this would be possible without them.”

To learn more about Frankie’s Friends, visit the organization online.

Photos courtesy of BluePearl