Puppy Rescued from Burning Car in Subzero Temperatures

On Sunday, firefighters in Missouri rescued an eight-week-old puppy that had been left inside a burning car during extreme cold weather as Winter Storm Fern impacted the region.

The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle ablaze near a convenience store on Sunday evening, shortly after the heavy snowstorm struck Missouri.

After extinguishing the fire, the firefighters found a small puppy huddled in the back seat, according to a Facebook post from the department.

Despite surviving the intense flames and freezing conditions, the puppy’s health deteriorated. Firefighters quickly transported the dog to a nearby store, using a specially designed “pet oxygen mask” to provide care.

The team laid the weak puppy on his side, gently placing the mask over his nose, which was connected to an oxygen tank much larger than the little dog.

A firefighter initially hoped to give the puppy a “new warm home,” but later realized that stray dogs are not able to be adopted directly. The puppy, affectionately named Ember, was turned over to the local shelter the following day.

“We are overjoyed that this dog made it through the fire and is somehow still alive and well,” the fire department expressed.

The first night, Ember stayed with one of the firefighters before being surrendered to the shelter.

“Thank you to the Cape Fire Department and all the first responders who did everything in their power to save the pup! You are all heroes!” noted SEMO Pets.

Veterinarian Dr. Colleen Letts mentioned that Ember isn’t ready for adoption just yet; the puppy is undergoing extensive recovery for breathing issues and secondary pneumonia.

As winter storm Fern brought significant snowfall to much of the country, many shelters have called on residents to temporarily care for large dogs to prevent them from being kept in chilly kennels.

Last week, over 1,500 New Yorkers stepped up as “blizzard buddies” for stray cats in New York City.