A massive house fire was already tearing through a Caddo Parish home at 1:15 a.m. when a desperate howling from the shadows changed the entire mission for first responders. Deputy William “Cody” Conly was on the scene with Fire District #8 when he realized a dog was trapped in a kennel just feet away from the advancing flames. You can find the full update over at @caddosheriff.
Thankfully, RIP was saved. Without waiting for a second, the deputy grabbed a pair of cutters from the firefighters and rushed toward the heat. This dog was saved only because Conly was alert enough to hear him over the roar of the fire. It was a split-second decision that prevented a total tragedy.
Dog was found trapped inside a fenced kennel
The reality for the family involved is just incredibly heavy, though. Sharon Johnson posted a Facebook update explaining that her dad (owner of the house) tried everything to get to the pets, but the fire was just too fast and too hot. They actually lost their indoor fur babies in the blaze. It is absolutely heartbreaking. But having RIP saved from that outdoor kennel gave them a small piece of hope to hold onto.
When he was finally pulled out of the cage, the poor pup was shaking uncontrollably. He just wanted to crawl into the back of the ambulance and snuggle with his owners. He was completely terrified by the noise and the smoke.
Meanwhile, the local community is really rallying behind them. People on social media are calling Deputy Conly “truly a hero with a big heart” for running toward the fire like that. One person said that saving RIP is a huge comfort for a family that basically just lost their entire world. Officer Mark Trenor from Vivian also helped out during the chaos. It’s just good to see first responders who treat pets like real members of the family.
RIP is currently staying with a relative and their dog while he tries to decompress. Johnson said he’s just resting and finally starting to relax. It’s a miracle the deputy heard that howling at all. The sheriff’s office mentioned they take a lot of “pride in serving” their residents and their animals, and it clearly shows.
