In the wake of disaster, it’s often the smallest moments that carry the most weight. As flames tore through Los Angeles during the Palisades Fire, reducing homes to rubble and lives to chaos, a single reunion offered a glimpse of light in the devastation. Amid the ash and ruin, Casey Colvin’s reunion with his dog, Oreo, became a symbol of love, loss, and the will to never give up.
Searching Through the Aftermath
When the wildfire struck on January 7, Casey Colvin was away from home. As the flames approached his Pacific Palisades residence, he rushed back—his mind not on possessions but on his dogs. With mandatory evacuations, Oreo and Tika Tika Tika had been left behind, and their safety was all he could think about.
First responders were able to locate one of them—Tika Tika Tika—and quickly brought the dog to safety. But Oreo had vanished. Described by Colvin as “behavioral,” Oreo had bolted in fear, disappearing into the smoke-filled landscape.
Five Days of Fear and Hope
For five agonizing days, Colvin searched and waited, clinging to the hope that Oreo had somehow survived. He remained close to the area, hoping for any sign. The terrain was scorched, littered with debris, and emotionally overwhelming—but the search didn’t stop.
Then, finally, the moment came.
Capturing a Moment of Pure Relief
On a Sunday, a video shared by NBC News correspondent Liz Kreutz captured what words could hardly describe. The footage shows Oreo emerging from the distance, cautiously approaching a driveway where Colvin and Tika Tika Tika waited. Slowly, the dog drew closer, as if sensing that safety was finally within reach.
The reunion was as raw as it was powerful. Overcome with emotion, Colvin ran toward Oreo, scooping him into his arms with a cry of relief.
“Oh honey, you’re alive, you’re alive! Oh, thank you, God!” he exclaimed.
The video shows Colvin lifting Oreo up, spinning around in joy, his gratitude written all over his face. For a few beautiful seconds, the fire, the wreckage, the loss—all of it faded. What remained was the bond between a man and his dog, unshaken by the destruction around them.
More Than One Story of Survival
Oreo’s return was one of many rescue efforts unfolding across Southern California. Social media has become a vital tool in reconnecting lost pets with their families. Platforms like Facebook and the registry site PetReconnect are filled with stories from people searching, hoping, and sharing.
In one local group, a woman named Jennifer Wratten Avila posted about a dehydrated dog her family discovered in their backyard. Later, she happily updated the post: “This pup has been reunited with her owners!”
From Ashes, Hope
In the face of natural disasters, stories like Oreo’s show the strength of the human-animal bond. Despite the chaos, despite the loss, love endured. Colvin’s joy, caught on camera, offered a beacon of hope to thousands watching from their own homes, many of them wondering about their own missing pets.
He didn’t just find his dog—he found a reason to believe again.
“Oh honey, you’re alive, you’re alive! Oh, thank you, God!”