LANCASTER, Ohio — A week of torrential storms ended in an unforgettable show of courage, unity, and compassion after a beloved dog named Scooby—and every animal housed at a Lancaster doggie daycare—was safely rescued from a catastrophic flash flood.
Earlier this week, more than six inches of rain inundated parts of Fairfield County, causing widespread flooding. The doggie daycare FIDO on Granville Pike
, which had already endured flooding the day before, was overwhelmed a second time. Water surged in suddenly, pinning doors shut and quickly engulfing the facility.
“We had very little time to react,” said the facility’s owner, who was inside with his wife, staff members, and numerous dogs when the waters hit. “The entire slab of the building shifted and rose beneath us… the foundation split apart.”
As water filled enclosures, staff members scrambled to save as many animals as possible. The owner rushed to shut off breaker boxes, moving room by room as water threatened to electrify the building. Amid the chaos, several acts of extraordinary bravery unfolded.
A former client delivering pizzas and towels saw the disaster unfolding and, without hesitation, climbed through a window into rising floodwaters to assist. Family members and volunteers on the outside began helping dogs out through windows, as staff inside refused to give up.
“My wife was forced to leave the building against her will,” said the owner. “She believed she was saying goodbye to me. I told her I wasn’t leaving the dogs behind.”
Inside the rapidly flooding lobby, it came down to the facility owner and Kris, a dedicated staff member, who were still fighting to get the last dogs out. “Kris was risking her life, running back to release dogs so they’d have a chance,” he said.
At one point, the fire department pleaded with the owner to prioritize human lives. But then a heartbreaking scream from one of the dogs, Logan, echoed through the building. The owner discovered the husky pinned by debris, barely keeping his head above water, and pulled him free.
In a gut-wrenching decision, he was eventually forced to let go of the remaining leashes to follow the rescuers’ orders. “It felt like betrayal,” he said.
But in the end, every single dog and person was saved.
Among those rescued was Scooby, whose dramatic disappearance and miraculous recovery after being swept away sparked a community-wide search. After days of effort, Scooby was found safe, thanks to the work of multiple agencies and volunteers.
The family expressed their deep gratitude:
“We truly are so fortunate to have had a community rally in support and such amazing professionals team up to make Scooby’s return happen.”
A Heartfelt Thanks to the Heroes:
- Rico Pet Recovery
- Dr. Libby and her veterinary team
- Fairfield County Dog Adoption Center & Shelter
- Finishing Institute for Dog Ownership
- Falcon Aerial Services
- Ohio Ridge Outdoors
- Peg Leg Aerial Imaging
- First responders, volunteers, and community members
“Please pour your love and generosity into them as you did us—they truly made miracles happen,” the family wrote.
Despite the loss of their building, the owners are holding tight to what really matters: every human and every pet made it out alive.
