Guapo was badly burned when a van carrying 11 rescues from Houston to new homes in other states caught fire. Seven dogs died, but good Samaritans saved Guapo.
HOUSTON — An unthinkable weekend tragedy claimed the lives of seven Houston rescue dogs that were being dropped off at new homes around the country.
The transport van carrying them caught fire on an Illinois highway late Friday. The transport team managed to save three dogs from the flames, but a fourth frightened pup ran away into the night.
That’s when fate intervened and led the sweet boy named Guapo straight into the loving arms of his forever home. And he couldn’t have found a more perfect family.
Jordan Antonovich and her daughter Kaylee were driving home from a play in St. Louis when they came upon the accident scene in Glen Carbon, Illinois.
“I saw a burnt golden doodle-looking dog running down the road and attempted to catch him,” Jordan posted on Facebook. “I was unable to, but a young man and girl were able to catch him.”
RELATED: Houston-area rescue groups need help after tragic van fire kills 7 dogs (WARNING: Graphic photos)
Jordan and her husband are avid dog lovers, so she knew there was an animal hospital a couple of miles away. With help from another mom, her two daughters, and the Illinois State Police, they loaded Guapo into their van and drove to Hawthorne Animal Hospital.
“I drove him to the emergency room while Kaylee held him in the back seat,” Jordan said.
The team at Hawthorne did what they could to save 10-month-old Guapo and ease his suffering.
“His burns are painful. His recovery will be long. But he is alive — and he is fighting,” Belle’s Buds Rescue posted in an update.
But the sweetest update of all came from Jordan.
“After talking to the shelter, Belle’s Buds Rescue, and talking it over with Nick, we decided that this dog belongs with us,” Jordan shared. “So, while he has a long recovery ahead of him, I would like to introduce the newest member of our family, the Eskidoodle and brave survivor, Guapo. It means handsome in Spanish, and we are so excited to be his new furever home.”
Their “furever” home is a 40-acre farm with five other dogs. Guapo will be isolated from his four-legged female siblings for now while his burns heal and he undergoes weeks of therapy.
“We’re so grateful we get to be the ones that help him heal. It’s a tough thing to see. His burns are extensive to say the least but we’re up to the challenge of making him “Guapo” again,” Jordan shared with a photo of Guapo snuggled up with a plushy toy and baby blanket.
Remembering the fire victims
The other three dogs that survived the fire, Sasha, Charlie and Magnolia, were safely delivered to their adoptive families.
Meanwhile, Belle’s Buds, Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue and seven heartbroken families will forever remember the dogs that perished: Sampson, Presto, Clover, Piglet, Lancelot, Poncho and Penny.
“We will never forget the dogs we lost last night. Their lives mattered. Their stories mattered. And Guapo’s fight for survival will carry their memory with him every step of the way.”
How you can help
Belle’s Buds Rescue is accepting monetary donations to help with Guapo’s veterinarian bills.
What we know about the rescue dog van fire
The Illinois State Police told our sister station in St. Louis that the vehicle went up in flames around 11:30 p.m. on Interstate 270 near Glen Carbon. That’s northeast of St. Louis in Madison County.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In a Facebook post, Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue said the van was headed from Houston to New York with stops along the way to deliver adopted dogs.
It’s not uncommon for dogs rescued in Texas to be adopted in other states or Canada, where stricter spay/neuter laws mean fewer strays, unwanted puppies and overcrowded shelters. These nonprofits, run by volunteers, raise money to help with the cost of transporting the dogs or providing care for the ones that stay in Texas.
“While the fire is being investigated, the rescue is hoping that this tragedy honors the lives of those lost by bringing awareness to the many animals in the shelters and even more on the streets,” CLMR told KHOU 11 on Monday. “We can honor Piglet, Pancho, Penny, Lancelot, Clover, Presto, and Stetson(Sampson) by fighting for change to Texas laws, specifically spay/neuter and breeding laws, so that we don’t have the need to transport to other states.”