Less than 24 hours after the Eaton fire tore through our beloved community, one of our Animal Control Officers found a badly injured husky mix wandering the fire-ravaged part of Altadena.
Soot and ash coated his white fur, which was singed away in patches, and the tips of his ears were red and raw. Exhausted, the dog leaned into our Animal Control Officer the moment he came to his rescue.
The dog, later named Riley, was among the first of the burned animals rushed to the ICU at Pasadena Humane. Our veterinary team immediately began assessing his injuries and providing lifesaving care.
Riley suffered burns on his body and all four paws, along with smoke inhalation. He was in tremendous pain but fortunate to be alive. In our ICU, he received fluids, oxygen, pain medications, and around-the-clock monitoring.
Our veterinary team spent the next few months caring for Riley. His paws, so badly burned, took the longest to heal. Beneath carefully wrapped bandages, manuka honey and healing ointments helped soothe and rebuild the damaged tissue.
As Riley’s body healed, his emotional wounds became more apparent. Understandably, he was wary, withdrawn, and hesitant to trust.
Our team never gave up on him. As soon as he was healed enough, our trainers patiently began teaching Riley to trust again.
Riley’s physical and emotional transformation was truly remarkable. With dedicated care and time, he soon looked and acted like a completely different dog.
After more than five months with us, a happy new chapter began for Riley. He was adopted by a wonderful family with another husky, with whom he formed an immediate bond.
Today, Riley has blossomed into the sweetest and funniest dog, according to his adopter, who sends us regular updates. His goofy and energetic personality makes her laugh every day, and she can’t imagine life without him.
Riley is now her loyal work-from-home buddy, rarely leaving her side. He enjoys curling up with her resident cats while she works at her computer.
He loves riding in the car and has become the designated front seat passenger for all road trips along the California coast. He especially enjoys going for hikes and walks along the beach. The once shy dog now eagerly runs up to greet other dogs and is even becoming more comfortable approaching new people.
For all of us at Pasadena Humane, Riley is a shining example of why we show up every day. The joy in seeing him transform from a scared, injured dog to now living his best life reminds us why we persevere, even when times get tough.
Stories like his give us hope — hope for a future where all animals, regardless of their past, are given a true second chance.
Riley’s transformation is a true example of what we can accomplish when we work together with our community. It’s thanks to the generosity of our supporters that we can provide animals like Riley with the gold standard of care and help them heal.
That’s why we selected Riley as this year’s poster dog for Giving Tuesday, a global day of generosity celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.
Now through Dec. 2, all gifts up to $100,000 will be super matched, thanks to the Sterling Pile Trust. Thanks to matching funds, every $1 donated will become $5 to help animals like Riley with the care and support that they need to thrive.
To learn how you can make a difference for animals like Riley this Giving Tuesday, visit pasadenahumane.org/givingtuesday
Chris Ramon is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org