22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Pup saved from fire waited as his siblings got homes. Then, a touching adoption
A puppy rescued from a fire waited as his siblings got homes — then came good news.
Half Pint was the second pup from his litter to be adopted by a firefighter, according to a Georgia animal rescue.
'In an incredible twist of fate, his adopter just happened to be a fireman from another department,' Jennifer Siegel, founder and director of Bosley's Place, told McClatchy News in a July 22 email. 'It was a beautiful and unexpected connection that brought their story full circle.'
Half Pint, whose new name will be Chief, got a second chance after experiencing a tragic loss. His 'brave' mom died while helping him and his litter mates inside a burning home, the Atlanta-area rescue wrote in past Instagram posts.
'He was rescued from a house fire when he was just eight days old,' the animal organization wrote. 'His mother made the ultimate sacrifice, using her own body to shield him and his siblings so they could survive.'
In March, the three babies arrived at the rescue and had to be bottle fed. Two of the pups — Bitsy and Pee Wee Jr. — soon got new owners. It turns out, a first responder who got the newborns out of the burning home had fallen for Pee Wee Jr., now called Lieutenant Pee Wee.
'The firefighter identified him immediately as the one he hoped would join his family,' Siegel wrote. 'And over the following weeks he came on occasional Sundays to help bottle feed and raise him.'
As Half Pint waited for a home of his own, he showed off his curious and loving nature. He became known for having a 'big personality and an endless zest for life.'
'This sweet boy is more than just a little adventurer — he's also a certified cuddle pro,' rescuers wrote. 'Half Pint is a lap-layer, a neck-nuzzler, and a heart-melter with an infectious smile that lights up the room. His playful, affectionate personality is the kind you just want to keep close forever.'
Then on July 6, the rescue in a Facebook post shared the heartwarming news that Half Pint had been adopted. Several social media users shared celebratory comments as the pup got a fresh start with a firefighter.
'HAPPY DAY!' the rescue wrote in its post. 'Half Pint has selected his forever family!! It took him a minute, but they are awesome!!'
Bosley's Place is based in Smyrna, a roughly 15-mile drive northwest from downtown Atlanta.
