02-07-2025
Chihuahua rescued from fire-hit Perth tenement two weeks after blaze
The dog had been spotted in the window of Scott Street flat by nearby residents
A chihuahua was rescued from a building destroyed by fire in Perth last month – after surviving for nearly two weeks in the damaged tenement.
The puppy called Vilo, which means 'to live' or 'to thrive and flourish' in Slovakian, was feared killed in the Scott Street fire which occurred in the early hours of Saturday June 14.
However, the chihuahua was later spotted in the window of the building by nearby residents.
Perth and Kinross Council reached out to charity Missing Pets Perth and Kinross for advice.
Once restrictions over the site of the fire were removed the charity's volunteers flew a drone over the tenement and used thermal imaging to pinpoint its location.
They then provided traps for demolition workers to put out each night containing food and water. Cameras inside showed Vilo taking enough to survive – but not venturing far enough inside to set the traps off.
It was only when clothes belonging to her owners were placed in the crates that the rescue team were able to bring Vilo back down to ground level on Friday, 27 June, almost two weeks after the fire.
Katie McCandless from the charity said: 'This is a little bit of hope in some dark times.
'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.'
g Vilo's rescue, she was taken to a vet for a check over and, remarkably, is suffering no ill effects.
It also emerged 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 during the day.
Katie said: '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'
The dog belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed on the top-floor of the tenement. Dad Maros 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.'
