Not Without My Dog!

A true story reprinted with permission from the
Rocky Mountain Kerry Blue Terrier Club

On January 14, 2005 a fire broke out in the kitchen area of the Arvada condo owned by club member, Jerry Leonard.  His efforts to extinguish the blaze only made things worse.  Soon, he probably realized he had to get out along with his Kerry Blue, Ch. Casey's Love Me Tender, Elvis.  The fire department was called and when they arrived found Jerry and Elvis on the deck area of the second floor unit.  Jerry refused to be rescued before his dog.  Elvis was passed to firefighters and Jerry was left to wait.  By the time he was removed from his deck he had sustained third degree burns to his back, arms and head.  Jerry was taken to the burn unit of University Hospital and Elvis went to neighbors he knew.  By chance, Elvis' breeder, Lois Croley, saw the news coverage of the fire.  Due to privacy laws, she was only able to find out the whereabouts of Jerry, but was unable to locate Elvis. 

A family friend of Jerry's knew how much he loved the dog and knew Elvis had to get to people who could care for him permanently.  In the course of going through Jerry's personal effects the woman found the phone number for Phil Luebbers, past club president.  Soon Lois was contacted and arrangements were made for Elvis to return to her. 
Charlene and Lois visited Jerry several times in the burn unit.  What made Elvis able to find his way to his breeder was the diligence of club members, caring neighbors and friends, and the documentation Jerry set down in writing long before this tragedy.  Elvis is co-owned by Charlene Dwyer and therefore had somebody legally able to take responsibility for him.  He was also chipped.

Please chip your dogs and make written instructions detailing what to do with your pets in case you are temporarily or permanently unable to care for them. 

Sadly, Jerry Leonard died March 5, 2005.  There was no service and the remains were transported to Idaho for internment.  He will be missed by everyone who knew him and most of all by Elvis.

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