Heroic dog saved Florida family from fire, is now depending on strangers to save him

Onyx needs help — and strangers are rallying to make sure he gets the care he deserves.

Last week, the 9-month-old pit bull terrier saved his family from a house fire in Tallahassee, Florida, but endured severe burns on up to 30 per cent of his body in the process.

Onyx woke up Trevor Myres, Sierra Plair and their two sons with his loud barks early Thursday morning. Myres found Onyx on the back patio where the fire had started. The dog was on fire.

Myres used a garden hose to put the fire on the dog out while the rest of the family safely evacuated the home.

"I honestly do feel like if Onyx wasn't out there, even though it’s unfortunate, anything could have happened, because once it got up to my son’s room we wouldn’t have been able to go up there and get the kids out," Plair told Tallahassee.com.

Because the family is unable to afford veterinary care — Onyx would require several weeks of treatment with antibiotics and pain medications — they assumed they'd have to surrender their heroic pop to the Tallahassee Leon-Community Animal Service Center (ASC).

"We were at our wits' end," Plair said. "We were going to give him up because we didn't have money for treatment."

According to a press release from the City of Tallahassee Fire Department, the shelter wanted to give Onyx the care he needed and reached out to Northwood Animal Hospital, and the Tallahassee Animal Shelter Foundation (ASF) to coordinate care for the injured dog.

"Our goal is to help pets stay in their homes with their families," said Dr. Rachel Barton, Animal Services Veterinarian. "Given the traumatic event this family had just experienced, we knew we needed to do whatever we could to help them keep Onyx at home. They had already been through so much, the last thing we wanted them to do was lose their dog as well."

"While our primary focus is to help provide veterinary care for the homeless animals at the ASC, given the extraordinary circumstances of this situation, we decided that we would help Onyx get the care that he deserved, so that he could stay with his owners rather than being turned over to the shelter," said ASF President Kate MacFall.

The day after the fire, Onyx was "resting comfortably" at Northwood Animal Hospital, where he will be receiving treatment for the severe burns all over his body.

"If not for this special dog, this family may never have woken up," said Northwood Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Brumfield.

Northwood Animal Hospital is currently accepting donations to pay for Onyx's medical bills.

"He was lucky to survive, but now has to deal with the pain and risk of complications from the burns to his skin & eyes and possible damage to his lungs from smoke inhalation. Northwood is treating Onyx with oxygen supplementation, a cocktail of IV pain medications, antibiotics and eye medications to treat the damage to his skin and eyes from the fire," the animal hospital posted on Facebook.

"Onyx has a long road to recovery ahead of him, but we at Northwood consider him a local hero and are doing all we can to help him recover and painlessly as possible. Onyx’s owners were unable to be able to afford treatment for Onyx so Northwood Animal Hospital, Leon County Animal Service Center and others have begun donating services and medications to help Onyx. Northwood Animal Hospital is accepting donations for Onyx’s treatment via PayPal or telephone."

"I'm just so happy that he's getting the treatment that he needs and that he deserves," Plair told Tallahassee.com.

Yesterday, the hospital provided an update on Onyx:

"We spoke with the doctors at UF today and Onyx is hanging in and showing improvement in his kidney function. His caloric intake is gradually increasing, which ultimately is needed for healing of his extensive wounds. He will be further evaluated tomorrow by the veterinary optho team to more closely inspect his severely damaged corneas that were burned in the blaze. At this point, his eyes are his most critical risk. Also, the family asked us to extend their sincere gratitude for all the support and well wishes that Onyx has received from so many people all over the world. It is this outpouring of support that has provided this hero the treatment and care he deserves…"