In the footage, the dog circles the car, jumping up at the windows, pleading in the only way he knows how. Despite this, the car pulls away, leaving the pup alone in an unfamiliar neighborhood. But this story doesn’t end in heartbreak. Against all odds, the dog’s journey takes a turn, and the ending is one filled with hope.

From Viral Clip to Real-Life Rescue

After seeing the heartbreaking video go viral, Pastor Garcilazo knew he couldn’t just scroll past. He told NBC 6 South Florida that he was already close to the area where the dog had been abandoned, so he decided to go looking for him, hoping he might still be nearby.

Thankfully, his search ended in the best possible way. Garcilazo found the dog, a large Goldendoodle, and brought him home to safety. He named the sweet pup Leo, marking the beginning of a brand-new chapter in the dog’s life.

Later, Garcilazo commented on the original video shared by Only in Dade on Instagram, the clip that helped lead him to Leo, writing, “I have it with me, and he’s happy now 🙌🔥❤️.” 

New Life for Leo

In an amazing turn of events, Garcilazo ended up adopting Leo, giving him the love and care he deserved. Recalling the moment he found the dog, Garcilazo said that Leo was full of nervous energy, running in circles as if unsure what to do or where to go. 

He also shared that the people who got the video captured said the woman who abandoned him was crying, a detail not shown in the clip. Still, Garcilazo emphasized that no matter how emotional the moment may have been, leaving a dog behind like that was not the right way. As he put it, there are humane ways to handle difficult decisions, and abandonment should never be one of them.

After bringing Leo to safety, Garcilazo quickly realized just how much the dog had been through. He took the Goldendoodle to a groomer, who told him they had never worked on a dog with such severe matting, indicating clear signs of long-term neglect. Despite everything, Leo remained gentle and trusting, and Garcilazo admitted that he had “absolutely” fallen in love with him.

Fire Crews Race In After Dog’s Life-Saving Warning

Many fire departments rushed to the scene, including the City of Long Beach, the New York Fire Department, and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. The crews brought the blaze under control within 40 minutes, though the fire had already spread through the first floor, second floor, and basement of the home.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Nassau County Police Arson Bomb Squad, and the Long Beach Police Department are all working to determine what sparked the early morning emergency.

In the wake of the incident, Chase is being celebrated as a true hero. The little Goldendoodle’s quick instincts and urgent barks gave his family the warning they needed to escape the burning home safely, a lifesaving act that has earned him big praise from first responders and dog lovers alike.

Rick DiGiacomo from the Long Beach Fire Department stated, “The residents were woken by the dog barking, and then looked out and saw the fire.”

According to DiGiacomo, he has witnessed numerous instances in which a pet’s instincts took over long before people realized they were in danger. He claimed that it serves as a reminder of how perceptive our animals can be. He also urged families to test their smoke detectors on a regular basis to avoid incidents such as this. 

Pet Rescue Advocate Rocky Kanaka is also impressed by this little furry friend’s bravery. He says, “Chase may be tiny, but his bravery is enormous. Stories like his remind us that dogs aren’t just pets, they’re family, protectors, and everyday heroes. His quick instincts didn’t just save lives; they showed the world what a big heart a little dog can have.”

Why Our Pets’ Instincts Matter in Emergencies

Dogs can often sense emergencies before humans thanks to their powerful noses and sharp awareness. With up to 300 million scent receptors, dogs can detect tiny chemical changes in the environment or in a person’s body, such as even cancer long before we notice anything is wrong. 

Studies also show dogs can identify stress and physiological shifts through scent alone, helping them alert owners to danger or medical issues. Their superior hearing and instinctive attunement to human behaviour make them quick to react to threats like fire, illness, or distress.

While it can be tempting to call a dog’s reaction “instinct,” biology gives us real reasons to believe they often sense danger before we do. Their heightened senses, emotional attunement, and history of detection and alerting roles make them natural guardians. So when a dog like Chase springs into action and saves lives, it may feel miraculous, but science shows dogs are wired to do exactly that.

“Frank! Oh my god!” she exclaims, instantly bursting into tears as she dashes into the wooded area. “I’m so sorry!” 

@reavesrecoveryrescue

young girl reunite with her dog that was missing for 5 days thanks to thermal drone

♬ original sound – Reaves Recovery and Rescue

Frank is a four-year-old Goldendoodle who had spent the past five nights outside and alone. Frank had been startled by a loud noise while on a walk with his young owner and managed to yank his retractable leash out of her hand before dashing away trailing the leash. His owners searched for four days, but with no luck in their efforts and rain storms threatening the area they reached out to Reaves Recovery and Rescue for help. 

Frank isn’t only a pet, he’s his young owner’s emotional support animal, and reuniting them was of the utmost importance. 

The team from Reaves Recovery and Rescue started the very next morning by launching thermal drones in the area where Frank was lost. Thermal drones are equipped with cameras and sensors that detect heat, helping to distinguish living creatures from surrounding brush, plants, and debris. Within 10 minutes of the first drone launch, Reaves Recovery and Rescue spotted a little red dot in a small patch of woods. Directing the drone to move closer, the rescuers were stunned to find Frank, a little wet from the previous night’s rain, but otherwise looking unharmed. 

Sweet little Frank had gotten tangled up in the woods thanks to the leash he was still wearing, so he hadn’t managed to run far. Relatively close to where he had run away, finding Frank in the wooded area would have been immensely difficult without the thermal drones. Even with the thermal drones, he blended in so well that it was hard to tell it was him at first. 

@reavesrecoveryrescue

Frank giving kisses after being stuck in the woods for 5 days

♬ original sound – Reaves Recovery and Rescue

Not an eye was dry as Frank and his young owner reunited, and you can tell just how overjoyed Frank was to finally be back with his people. After five days in the woods, all Frank wanted to do was give his owner kisses and let her know it was all going to be okay! 

How Rescuers Locate Missing Dogs & Other Pets

Using thermal drones is a relatively new method of locating lost or missing pets and has proven especially effective for searching rural, inaccessible, or particularly large areas. But it’s not just high-tech solutions that help find missing pets—search and rescue teams rely on tons of tools, tricks, and tried-and-true methods to locate and catch their ‘targets.’ 

The longer a pet has been missing the more difficult it becomes to locate and catch them, which is why rescuers have to get creative if they want success. Rescuers often place and monitor trail cameras, set traps using bait, use temporary fencing to restrict a search area, employ search and rescue canines, and much more in their efforts to find missing animals.