Early on January 7, 2025, the Palisades Fire swept through California, leaving homes destroyed and roads impassable. For Casey Colvin, the immediate fear wasn’t property—it was the safety of his beloved dogs, Oreo and Tika Tika Tika. Trapped at work when the fire broke out, Casey frantically tried to reach his neighborhood.

Road closures forced him to rent a bike, pedaling through smoke and chaos. When he arrived, emergency crews blocked access, and the fate of his dogs remained unknown. The uncertainty was agonizing.

Cal Fire battalion chief Brent Pascua intervened, courageously entering a burning home. He rescued Tika Tika Tika, but Oreo was missing. For five days, Casey combed through wreckage, joined by neighbors and volunteers, searching desperately for any sign of his small Pomeranian.