A California man finally got the emotional reunion he had been waiting more than a year for after devastating wildfires destroyed the home he shared with his beloved dog.
After surviving the terrifying Eaton Fire in January 2025, Altadena resident Dominic was forced to make a heartbreaking decision.
With nowhere safe to stay after the wildfire burned down his home, he brought his dog Blade to Pasadena Humane for emergency boarding while he searched for stable housing.
What was supposed to be temporary turned into a painful 15-month separation.
But this spring, Dominic finally returned to bring Blade home for good — and staff members say there wasn’t a dry eye in the building.
“So many others were also in Dominic’s shoes, suddenly displaced and looking for a new place to live — and often left with nothing but the clothes on their backs,” Pasadena Humane shared in an emotional Facebook post.
The shelter explained that Blade was one of many pets who stayed in their care for months following the deadly wildfire disaster, with some animals remaining there for more than a year while owners struggled to rebuild their lives.
Even though Blade was away from his owner, shelter workers made sure the lovable Lab mix was surrounded with care and attention every single day.
According to Pasadena Humane, Blade quickly became a favorite among staff and volunteers.
The shelter said he enjoyed daily walks, tons of playtime, treats from the Shelter Shop, and especially loved shredding cardboard boxes.
“He snuggled with our call center staff on a regular basis,” the organization shared.
Then in April 2026, Dominic finally walked back through the shelter doors to pick up his best friend.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Dominic and Blade were reunited,” Pasadena Humane wrote. “We had never seen Blade happier as his eyes lit up at the sight of his dad.”
Staff said Dominic hugged volunteers and workers who cared for Blade during the long separation — and Blade even squeezed himself into one of the hugs so he could be part of the emotional moment too.
The pair then left together for a brand-new home and a fresh start.
“It’s not the home they once shared together,” the shelter wrote, “but a new place, ready for them to create new memories.”