A California woman and her dog have been reunited after more than a month, when they were separated by the deadly Camp Fire.
Andrea Gaylord was evacuated and unable to access her Paradise, Calif., home after the fire broke out on Nov. 8.
But Gaylord’s Anatolian shepherd, Madison, waited at home, apparently guarding the burned property for weeks.
{mosads}”Imagine the loyalty of hanging in through the worst of circumstances and being here waiting,” Gaylord told local news station ABC10. “You could never ask for better animals.”
Gaylord learned of Madison’s survival with the help of animal rescuer Shayla Sullivan, who went to the property to leave food and water for Madison.
Gaylord returned to her destroyed property for the first time last week, bringing Madison his favorite treat of Wheat Thins crackers.
Sullivan also located Madison’s brother, Miguel, who had been found and taken to a shelter in another city.
“Their instinctual job is to watch the flocks and we’re part of them,” Gaylord said of the dogs. “It’s a comforting feeling.”
The Camp Fire, which became the deadliest wildfire in state history before it was contained after nearly a month, killed over 80 people and destroyed thousands of homes.