The thermal image showing Vilo the chihuahua puppy (red circle) at a Perth tenement block.(Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross via SWNS)
By Talker
By Elizabeth Hunter
A chihuahua puppy who spent two weeks inside a building gutted by fire has been saved by hiding in a wardrobe and being lured out by her owner's scent.
Vilo has been hailed a 'miracle dog' who was feared dead after a devastating fire at a tenement block in Perth, Scotland, on 14 June.
The fire claimed the life of one man, injured an eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man, and saw more than 50 families evacuated.
Vilo's owners believed they would never see their pup again, but after the fire, she was spotted in a window by neighbors.
Rescuers pinpointed her location with thermal images before demolition workers left her food and drink in a trap.
Vilo was finally lured out on June 27, by rescuers leaving clothes belonging to her owners outside the door.
Vilo the chihuahua puppy. (Missing Pets, Perth and Kinross via SWNS)
By Talker
The pup had managed to make herself a bed in a wardrobe, where she escaped the noise and disruption of the demolition work.
Katie McCandless from the charity Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, who helped with the rescue, said: "She does not have a single mark on her and her paw pads are completely fine.
"She smells a bit of smoke, but had minimal smoke inhalation. She really is a miracle dog.
"This is a little bit of hope in some dark times.
"We knew it was a delicate situation and had to be handled sensitively; a lot of residents have lost everything."
The dog belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed on the top floor of the tenement.
Maros Ridaj said, "We are very happy that the dog is safe and has been returned to us."
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.