Camp Fire evacuee returns home to find lost dog patiently waiting

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Saturday, December 8, 2018
VIDEO: Loyal dog guards home after Camp Fire destroys Paradise
The owner of a loyal pup named Madison hoped and prayed he'd be OK after the Camp Fire burned through Paradise. What she found when she returned home was incredible.

PARADISE, Calif. (KGO) -- A woman returned home after being forced to evacuate from the Camp Fire's flames to find her dog watching over her property.

TIMELINE: The evacuation of Paradise from beginning to end

Both of Andrea Gaylord's dogs went missing as her home burned to the ground. Miguel was found 87 miles away with an animal rescue volunteer Shayla Sullivan, but Madison was still missing.

While Gaylord was unable to go back to the property to search for Madison, Sullivan was.

RELATED: Psychology may explain why loyal dog waited weeks for his family to return after deadly Camp Fire

Madison the dog watched over his destroyed home for weeks after the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise. But why? A canine behavior expert has a possible explanation.

"I have 141 phone calls on my cellphone from this gal, helping us find our dogs," Gaylord said.

Sullivan brought in food and water to where the home once stood, hoping to find Madison.

VIDEO: Dog survives Camp Fire, stays behind to guard burned property

Madison the dog couldn't be found when his owner had to evacuate from the Camp Fire in Butte County, but he survived and stayed to guard the lot where the home once stood.

"It was very comforting to know that you were making it in, even if I couldn't," said Gaylord.

Sullivan eventually pulled up to the property weeks after the fire to find Madison waiting patiently for his family to return.

For more stories and videos related to the Camp Fire, visit this page.

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