A tragic accident on an Illinois highway left animal rescuers and adoptive families heartbroken—but amid the sorrow, one survivor’s story is capturing hearts across the country.
Saturday night, a transport van carrying 11 rescue dogs from Houston to New York caught fire, unexpectedly. The van, organized by local rescue groups Belle’s Buds Rescue and Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue, was part of a routine monthly effort to relocate adoptable pets to loving homes up north.
But this trip turned tragic.
Fire on the Road
The blaze, described by witnesses as “fast and intense,” killed seven of the dogs. Four others survived—one not without trauma.
Among the survivors was Guapo, a 10-month-old pup who suffered the most severe injuries.
An Unexpected Meeting
Jordan Antonovich and her daughter were driving home from a play in downtown St. Louis when traffic came to a standstill. Moments later, Guapo came stumbling past their car—burned, frightened, and alone.
“This poor little dog came running down the road,” Jordan recalled. “You could see he was really roughed up. I told my daughter, ‘Oh my God, I think that dog was in the accident.’”
Guapo was immediately rushed to an emergency veterinarian. But even after dropping him off, Antonovich couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“I couldn’t get him out of my heart,” she said.
A New Chapter in St. Louis
Originally, Guapo was headed to New York to begin service dog training. But fate—and a twist of compassion—had other plans.
Jordan and her husband applied to adopt him. Now, Guapo is recovering in St. Louis, the newest member of their six-dog family—and the only boy. He’ll join the pack on the Antonovich‘s 40-acre farm.
Guapo’s road to healing will be long. He has visible burns on his face and body, and three of his four paw pads were burned off completely. He’ll remain in isolation for at least two to four weeks while he heals.
Still, his spirit remains intact.
“He’s giving kisses, cuddling, seeking attention,” Jordan shared. “He’s going to be wonderful. He’s going to fit right in.”
Moving Forward After Loss
The three other surviving dogs have since reached their adoptive families safely.
Belle’s Buds Rescue says the cause of the fire remains under investigation. In the meantime, both Belle’s Buds and Cypress Lucky Mutt are working to recover from the devastating loss—and are receiving support from the animal rescue community nationwide.
How to Help
Want to support the rescues and their efforts to save more lives like Guapo’s? Here’s links to support Belle’s Buds Rescue and Cypress Lucky Mutt Rescue.
