'There’s Just A Special Connection': Firefighter Who Rescued Puppies In House Fire Adopts Them

February 6, 2026

A firefighter who rescued a litter of puppies from a house fire has now given one of them a second chance—reuniting him with his brother in a heartwarming full-circle moment.

The Holaway family

When firefighters in Pickens County, Georgia, rushed into a burning home last March, they weren’t only battling flames—they were racing to save lives.

Inside the house, crews discovered a heartbreaking but powerful scene: a litter of newborn puppies, protected by their mother, who had shielded them from the fire.

“She shielded the babies, she lost her life protecting them,” Jennifer Seigel, founder of Bosley’s Place, said in an interview reported by a local Georgia news station.

Firefighters were able to rescue the puppies, carefully carrying them out and passing them through a window to safety. Despite efforts to revive her, the mother dog did not survive.

Pickens County Fire Lieutenant John Isaac Holaway recalled the rescue: “Me and my crew went in, they told us what room they were in, whereabout. And I was able to find them because of their mother. I just started picking up every puppy that I could, radioed to the chief that I had found them, and then I started passing the puppies out the window.”

The surviving puppies were taken in by two rescues—Pup and Cat Company and Bosley’s Place—where they were cared for and eventually adopted into loving homes.

All but one.

A puppy named Kreed was still waiting after his first adoption fell through. Seigel happened to spot him while scrolling online.

“Just the other day, I was on social media and saw a post on their site that showed a dog that looked very familiar to me,” she said. “It said he needed a foster and they couldn’t find one.”

She contacted the other rescue to confirm her hunch.

“I reached out to Patricia over at Pup and Cat Company and I said, is this my step son?” Seigel said with a laugh.

Kreed’s adoption hadn’t worked out—but not because of anything he had done. “She told me that his first adoption didn’t work out, not because of him, he’s an angel and super sweet,” Seigel said.

That’s when she thought of Lieutenant Holaway, who had already adopted one of the puppies from the fire, now named Chief Lou.

“I reached out to tell him what was happening,” she said. “And he was like, oh no no no. Let’s get the boys together and see if they get along, and if they do, we’ll foster him.”

Holaway said rescuing the litter had left a lasting impression on him. “To a lot of people, their animals are their family,” he said. “And it’s cool to be able to save anybody. So it was neat saving a whole litter of puppies.”

When Kreed and Chief Lou were reunited for the first time since the fire, the bond was immediate.

“They haven’t seen each other since the house fire,” Seigel said. “So first of all, it was an amazing reunion. And if all goes well, Kreed will go home with Chief Lou.”

Holaway admitted the moment was emotional.

“From the picture that I saw of Kreed yesterday, he looked pretty sad, and now he looks real happy,” he said. “Lou’s loving it. They both seem happy, and that makes me happy.”

For now, Kreed is being fostered by the very firefighter who carried him out of the flames, giving him time to settle in and see if the placement becomes permanent.

“There’s just a special connection,” Holaway said. “With these dogs, because I rescued them.”

Kreed has also become part of another family—the firehouse. Holaway often brings the dogs to the station, where they lift spirits after difficult calls.

“The guys love it,” he said. “It’s like therapy for them. No matter what kind of day we are having, some snuggles and love from the dog is always a plus.”

For Seigel, the story feels like it has come full circle.

“One of the things about Bosley’s Place that I really love is that when you’re adopting from us, it really feels like you’re family,” she said. “Even though Kreed wasn’t brought up with us, he’s still part of our family. And I’m just so happy. It’s all love, love, love all the way around.”

As for what happens next, Holaway is keeping things simple: “We just want to see how it goes,” he said. “As long as he gets a happy home, that’s the most important part.”