Community Corner

Man Says 'There Aren't Words' to Thank PAWS and Others Who Saved His Badly Burned Pup

PAWS Animal Shelter in Tinley Park is soliciting donations to help pay medical bills for Ruff Ruff, a friendly puppy who was on fire while she ran from a burning home early New Year's Day.

Tom Zeilenga kicked off 2012 by watching every single one of his belongings collapse into a dismal pit of smoldering ashes.

Even though he was left without so much as a pair of socks, it didn't matter. The three most important aspects of the former resident's life—his beloved dogs—miraculously survived the tragic fire that devoured his Wilmington abode.

 in  has now stepped up to foot the medical bills for one of Zeilenga's furry friends who was badly burned in the blaze. The shelter is accepting donations to help cover expenses for Ruff Ruff, an 8-month-old, once feral puppy who was on fire around 5:45 a.m. New Year's Day when she escaped the engulfed home.

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Red Catahoula Leopard was first taken to Animal Emergency of Mokena, then to Midwest Animal Hospital. She has most recently been treated at , said a cheerful sounding Zeilenga Tuesday evening.

"The house really doesn't matter because you can make that again," he said. "I was so worried about my Ruff Ruff."

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Zeilenga was in Chicago when the fire ignited in his home, according to reports. His neighbor, Steve Stachowiak, came to the dogs' rescue. Stachowiak lives two houses north of Zeilenga.

"I was awake and sitting at my computer … and I heard a strange popping sound," he said. "I looked out onto the river and saw an orange glow."

He found that one pup, Daisy, had darted through a doggy door and was outside the house, confined in a small pen. He lifted her over a fence and then began breaking windows and doors, thinking Zeilenga may be asleep. As he did so, a second dog, Izzy, ran through glass shards to safety.

But Ruff Ruff's exit wasn't quite as seamless. When she bolted out the patio door, she just kept running.

"The way we saw her come out of the house on fire, I didn't think she would survive," Stachowiak said. "… She was literally burning. It was terrible."

She ran up a hill and out of sight, which sent a neighborhood of do-gooders searching. 

"I just wish I could pay them back, all my neighbors who helped," Zeilenga said. "You see these people around and you say, 'hey,' but this happened and every one of 'em was out looking for Ruff Ruff, or bringing me bags of clothes. What fine people."

About five hours after the blaze, animal control officers got a call that a family had an injured puppy cowering under their porch.

"She's a stray so she's skittish with everyone but when she saw me, she licked my face and got right into my arms," Zeilenga said, adding that he adopted Ruff Ruff from Kansas City when she was 4 months old.

She had third-degree burns "around her little face" and the pads on her feet had melted off, Zeilenga said.

"When we heard about it, one of our directors called up the family and said we would be willing to pick up the medical costs," PAWS volunteer Marilyn Bailey said Tuesday. 

The shelter has been collecting donations ever since, Bailey noted, unsure what the total tab will be. About $1,600 had been donated as of Tuesday. Zeilenga said costs at the time were around $5,000 and climbing.

Most recently, doctors removed an 8 inch by 10 inch section of skin from Ruff Ruff's back, he said. But you wouldn't know it.

The loveable pooch is in good spirits. She's now spending her evenings at Zeilenga's sister's Lockport house where he's also staying. 

"Bringing her home is cutting down on expenses," he said. "She acts like she's not even hurt at all. She's wonderful. Just wonderful."

Zeilenga said he is forever indebted to Stachowiak for saving his trio of best friends. Stachowiak scoffed at the thought of being a local hero.

And for PAWS? Zeilenga plans to spend some time volunteering.

"I'm going to go in and tell them I'll clean and fix everything in there," he said. "If they need someone to clean up poop, I'll clean up poop. ... I can't tell you what this all means to me. There aren't words."

To make a donation to Ruff Ruff’s medical bills, call the shelter at 815-464-7298.

 

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