I’ve heard many heartwarming stories as a reptile enthusiast with years of experience. But this one, about a bearded dragon and two cats surviving a house fire, truly stands out.
It’s a testament to the resilience of our scaly and furry friends and the unbreakable bond between pets and their owners.
Let’s dive into this incredible story that unfolded in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
On a fateful Memorial Day, a fire ravaged two duplexes on North Maple Road in Ann Arbor.
Amid the chaos, a young couple had to leave their pets – two cats and a bearded dragon named Sebastian – behind.
The intense fire destroyed duplexes and four vehicles and displaced seven people. The cause?
A resident was burning cardboard in a fire pit too close to the duplex, a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety.
Miraculously, Sebastian, the bearded dragon, was found safe in one of the units. It’s believed that the heat from the fire melted the glass of his aquarium, allowing him to escape.
He found refuge behind a china cabinet in a corner of the room that was spared from the flames.
As a reptile, Sebastian was able to withstand the heat, demonstrating the remarkable survival instincts of these creatures.
The couple’s two cats, Rowdy and Mumford, were also found and promptly received emergency veterinary care.
However, their third cat, an orange tabby kitten named Lovebug, remains missing. The couple and their pets are currently staying with a friend while they figure out their next steps.
In the aftermath of the fire, a GoFundMe page was set up to help cover the cats’ vet bills and provide some relief for the couple who lost everything.
The response was overwhelming, with donations exceeding the initial goal of $6,000.
This story is a powerful reminder of pets’ resilience and the pet-loving community’s strength.
It also underscores the importance of fire safety and the need for emergency plans that include our pets.
After all, they’re not just pets – they’re family.
References:
4. gtucker @mlive.com GT |. Sebastian, the bearded dragon, 2 cats reunited with owners following house fire [Internet]. mlive. 2023 [cited 2023 Jun 3]. Available from: https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2023/06/sebastian-the-bearded-dragon-2-cats-reunited-with-owners-following-house-fire.html
Alina Hartley is a small-town girl with a ginormous love of bearded dragons. It all started with Winchester, a baby bearded who was abandoned at the shelter by his former owners because of a birth defect that caused one front leg to be shorter than the other. Alina originally went to the shelter looking for a guinea pig, but one look at Winchester and it was love at first sight. From that day on, Alina has dedicated her life to learning everything she can about bearded dragons. She loves helping new beardie parents start their incredible journey with these magnificent reptiles.
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