On the morning the Palisades Fire crested the hills above Pacific Palisades, California, Casey Colvin did what every pet parent hopes they will never have to do: he fled his home as flames closed in — and in the chaos, his little white Pomeranian vanished.
Oreo was not just any dog. He was a rescue, adopted by Colvin after surviving a hard life as an abused "street dog." He had finally found a safe home — and then, in a matter of hours, that home burned to the ground.
The Five Days That Felt Like Forever
As the January 2025 firestorm swept through the neighborhood, Oreo bolted. Firefighters managed to save one family pet from the Colvin home, but Oreo had already slipped away into the smoke.
What followed were five agonizing days. Colvin searched relentlessly, posting updates, walking the ruined streets, calling shelters — all while processing the loss of his home. Deep down, he feared the worst: that his little rescue dog had not made it out.
But Oreo had survived. The small dog spent those five days alone in the burned-out neighborhood, sheltering in the rubble of a neighbor's destroyed home. Colvin had left food and water near his own property — and, on January 12, 2025, the moment finally came.
The reunion, captured on video and shared around the world, shows Colvin dropping to his knees and pulling Oreo into his arms, tears of relief streaming down his face as the tiny dog pressed into his chest. After thinking his dog had been lost to the blaze, he had him back.
From One Rescue Dog to a Statewide Movement
Oreo's story did not end with the embrace. It became a rallying point for pet disaster safety. In March 2025, California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur introduced legislation inspired in part by cases like Oreo's, aimed at strengthening pet rescue and reunification efforts during major disasters — a direct response to the thousands of animals displaced by the January wildfires.
For us at Kitten Realm Research Lab, Oreo's story is a masterclass in what pet owners can do before, during, and after a disaster. Here is what the case teaches us:
What Oreo's Story Teaches Every Pet Parent
1. Have a pet evacuation plan before you need one. A carrier or crate, a leash, and a "go bag" with food, water, medications, and vaccination records should be packed and reachable. In a fast-moving fire, there is no time to improvise.
2. Microchip — and keep the registration current. Oreo was found by his owner through sheer persistence and luck. Microchipped pets brought to shelters and veterinary clinics can be identified and reunited instantly, but only if the registered contact information is up to date.
3. If you are separated, do not stop searching — and leave a scent trail. Colvin left food and water near his home, and pets often stay close to familiar territory, hiding in rubble, under porches, or in neighboring yards. Check shelters daily, post to local lost-pet groups, and ask neighbors to keep an eye out.
4. Know what to do in the first minutes of an emergency. Calm, practiced responses save lives. If you are unsure how to stabilize and transport a frightened or injured pet in a crisis, our guide to Critical First Aid: Managing the First 5 Minutes of Veterinary Emergencies walks through exactly what to do.
5. Never give up hope. Oreo survived five days alone in a disaster zone — a tiny, previously abandoned dog with every reason to hide. Pets are remarkably resilient, and reunions happen days, weeks, and even years after a loss.
Casey Colvin lost his home in the Palisades Fire. But he got his best friend back — and in doing so, reminded thousands of pet owners what matters most when everything else is gone.
This article is based on reporting from Newsweek, USA Today, and Los Angeles Daily News.