Fundraiser Benefits Dog Injured in Lakewood Falls Fire

A couple came home to a pet owner's worst nightmare on Saturday, arriving at their Monticello Circle home to find a blaring fire alarm and a house filled with smoke.

Even worse was that their two dogs, a beagle mix named Charlie and a recent rescue named Tela, were nowhere to be seen.

"Charlie usually comes right to the front door," said Sue Parse, who runs Safely Home Canine Rescue in Plainfield. "That was odd."

The smoke was so thick that the couple could not even enter the home, Parse said. By the time firefighters arrived at the home, located in the 14000 block of Monticello Circle in the Lakewood Falls subdivision, 6-year-old Charlie was dead of smoke inhalation.

Tela, a possible pit bull or Visla mix who had been adopted from Safely Home just months earlier, was clinging to life. Will County Sheriff's police rushed the dog to the Animal Care Center of Plainfield.

Read: Dog Killed in Lakewood Falls House Fire

"She had so much smoke in her, they had to keep her on oxygen," Parse said. Since then, the dog has been in and out of the clinic, with vet bills totaling more than $1,000. Her veterinarian believes Tela may have suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

Depending on how long her current vet stay lasts, it could cost Tela's owners another $400 to $1,000.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lockport has launched a fundraiser for Tela on behalf of Lockport Township Fire Protection District's "Comfort Dog" Samuel. The dog's handler, Mark Hein, is also the fire district chaplain and is pastor of St. Paul's.

According to the church's fundraiser page, "Firefighters using special K9 resuscitation equipment were able to revive the dog and it was immediately taken to an emergency veterinary clinic in critical condition. The first 48 hours were touch and go in that the dog had significant smoke in its lungs. Thankfully, Tela is doing better, but needs additional hospitalization and veterinary care."

The church is collecting donations online; to access the fundraiser, click here. Parse said donations can also be made directly to Plainfield Animal Care Center by calling 815-436-8387. Callers should indicate they would like to make a donation to Tela's veterinary care fund.

Parse said Safely Home board members hope to assist in covering any veterinary costs that are not covered by the fundraiser.

She said the fire happened a little more than a year after Safely Home rescued Tela from a pound in southern Illinois. Since she was adopted in December, Tela's owner has become an active volunteer with Safely Home.

"Even [the day of the fire], she was at an event all day with us," Parse said.

During her stay with Safely Home, Tela was known as the dog rescue's unofficial greeter during events.

"She's such a good dog," Parse said.