After spending more than a year in a shelter following the devastating Eaton Fire in Southern California, a Lab mix named Blade finally saw his guardian walk through the door — and their joyful reunion moved staff to tears, according to local news.
Blade was brought to Pasadena Humane in January 2025 by his guardian, Dominic, as the fast-moving wildfire crept closer to their home in Altadena.
At the time, Dominic hoped Blade would only need temporary shelter, but when the fire destroyed his house, the pair’s lives were turned upside down.
As weeks turned into months, Dominic continued searching for a new place where he and Blade could stay together, but finding housing proved to be a significant challenge.
Still, the staff and volunteers at Pasadena Humane made sure Blade was surrounded by comfort and affection. The cuddly pup enjoyed daily walks with volunteers, treats from the shelter’s shop, and plenty of playtime and enrichment.
Then, 16 months after Blade arrived at the shelter, Dominic returned with life-changing news: He had finally secured a new home where his beloved dog would be welcome!
“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Dominic and Blade were reunited, and we had never seen Blade happier as his eyes lit up at the sight of his dad,” Pasadena Humane wrote in a Facebook post.
As Dominic embraced the people who had cared for his dog for so long, Blade reportedly squeezed himself into the middle of one hug, determined to be part of the celebration.
Together at last, Dominic and Blade then walked out of the shelter and into the next chapter of their lives.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to everyone at Pasadena Humane who helped Blade feel safe and loved throughout his extended stay, and we wish him and Dominic many happy years in their new home.
