Here boy! Vilo the chihuahua emerges from burn-out flat two weeks after horrific fire killed man and left eight-year-old girl injured

Daily Mail​

02-07-2025

A hero dog has been rescued a fortnight on from the remnants of a devastating blaze that killed a man and left an eight-year-old girl injured.
The chihuahua, who has now been given the name Vilo, emerged from the burnt-out apartment in the Scottish town Perth.
A charity, Missing Pets, is now looking after the dog - as police continue to investigate the tragedy that happened in the early hours of June 14.
Neighbours in the street were forced to flee their homes as emergency services were called to deal with the inferno and its aftermath.
The animal welfare group posted an update about Vilo on its Facebook page named Missing Pets In Perth And Kinross.
The statement described how the 'devastating' fire had 'a huge impact on our community but has also shown in times of struggle how we can all pull together to help others'.
The group also told of giving the dog the name Vilo, inspired by it being a Slovakian word suggesting 'to live' or 'to thrive and flourish'.
The group told its 32,000 Facebook followers: 'A couple of days after the fire, we at Missing Pets were contacted to ask for our advice and help as a little miracle had happened.
'A little chihuahua puppy called Vilo had survived the fire and was still in the building.
'Vilo had been spotted by contractors working on the building but was too scared to come to anyone. Team members gave advice about popping food out and also provided two humane traps baited with food.'
The group said: 'With us all working together, we were able to pinpoint a rough area where she was hiding and bedding down to keep safe.
'After 13 days, Vilo was safely caught and completely unharmed.'
They also insisted they could not 'take all the credit for her safe capture', sharing thanks with local demolition firm Reigart Contracts whose staff added their help.
Missing Pets said of the company based in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire: 'They did everything they possible could to safely help with her capture and were the ones who were able to catch her and bring her down safely.
'They had her wrapped up safely in one of her owners teeshirts so she had a comforting smell too.
They told how a neighbour spotted the dog at the window 'looking remarkably well', while the group's live cameras of the scene showed Vilo entering a trap left out and eating food that was there - 'but not triggering the trap plate'.
Missing Pets went on to describe how one of their volunteer drone pilots won permission to fly a thermal drone over the building to track Vilo's movements.
Katie McCandless, from the charity, has now described the dog's rescue as 'a little bit of hope in some dark times'.
She said: 'Perth and Kinross Council contacted us for some help and advice about what the best thing to do was. I've been running this charity for 14 years but this is the first type of case like this I've ever been involved in.
'We knew it was a delicate situation and had to be handled sensitively, a lot of residents have lost everything.'
Following Vilo's rescue, she was taken to a vet for a check over and, remarkably, is suffering no ill effects.
It emerged that Vilo had also managed to make herself a bed in a wardrobe, where she escaped the noise and disruption of the demolition work going on around her.
Ms McCandless added: 'She does not have a single mark on her and her paw pads are completely fine. She smells a bit of smoke but had minimal smoke inhalation. She really is a miracle dog.
Vilo belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed in the top-floor of the tenement, including father Maros who said: 'We are very happy that the dog is safe and has been returned to us.'
Councillor Eric Drysdale, deputy leader of Perth and Kinross Council and ward member for Perth City Centre, said: 'This really is a remarkable story.
'I would like to thank everyone who helped return Vilo to her family safely - the neighbouring family who reported seeing her, Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, council staff who supported the rescue and, of course, the team from Reigart Contracts who assisted while carrying out dangerous and urgent demolition work.
'We know there are people still grieving after the fire because of the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes and the impact on businesses nearby.
'But this amazing rescues is emblematic of the kindness people have shown in the wake of the tragedy - and the extra mile people have been willing to go to help others affected by this awful situation.'
'After her being checked over by the vets, I don't think any of us could believe how unharmed she was.
'She didn't have a single mark on her, her paw pads were completely fine and she had minimal smoke inhalation.'
A man was found dead at the scene following the June 14 fire, while the eight-year-old girl and another man, aged 27, were taken to hospital.
Two firefighters also required medical attention, one of them after being struck by 'falling masonry' as a result of the fire.
Scotland's First Minister John Swinney, whose constituency as an MSP is Perthshire North, said afterwards he was 'terribly sorry' to hear that a man had died.
He added: 'I express my sympathy to his family. Concerned also for the condition of those who are receiving hospital treatment.'
Perth and Kinross-shire MP Pete Wishart described the incident as 'awful news', saying: 'We had hoped that everyone had got out safely.'
He added: 'Thoughts are with family and friends. There is going to be ongoing disruption in the city centre and I ask everyone to be patient with the investigation and restrictions.'
Chief Superintendent Nicola Russell said Police Scotland are conducting a joint investigation with the fire service.
She said: 'Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident. Investigations are at a very early stage to establish the full circumstances of what has happened.