Taka – The Miracle Dog Who Survived a House Fire

Last week, a devastating fire broke out at a home in Martinez, Georgia. In the chaos, an 8-year-old Shiba Inu named Taka was trapped inside a screened-in porch. Despite his family’s desperate efforts to save him, they were forced to flee the burning house, thinking they had lost him forever.

But then, a miracle happened. Taka managed to escape the flames on his own, running down the street with severe burns. A kind neighbor spotted him and rushed him to Care More Animal Hospital for emergency treatment.

Dr. Emily Martin, the vet who took Taka in, shared that he had suffered burns around his eyes, mouth, ears, and belly. There was also concern he had inhalation burns, which could be fatal.

After being transferred to the University of Georgia for oxygen therapy, Taka stabilized enough to return to the clinic. Unfortunately, the injuries to his eyes were too severe — Taka lost his vision.

What amazed everyone was that despite the intense pain, Taka showed no signs of aggression or fear.

Martin said:

“When he first came in, he was screaming in pain, but as soon as someone sat beside him and started singing, he calmed down.”

Taka’s family, heartbroken by the situation, made the difficult decision to surrender him into Martin’s care so he could receive the treatment he needed. From that moment on, Martin became more than just his vet — she became his second mom.

Because the clinic doesn’t operate overnight, Martin brought Taka home one evening so he wouldn’t be alone. She stayed up with him the entire night, and both of them were exhausted by morning. The next day, Martin even crawled into Taka’s kennel at the clinic to nap beside him — a touching moment that a coworker captured in a photo.

Martin explained:

“Taka doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. A lot of animals lash out when they’re in pain, but he’s only ever sought comfort from people.”

While Taka’s recovery is far from over, he’s showing positive signs — he’s eating, going to the bathroom on his own, and slowly regaining strength. His personality is also starting to shine through — he loves belly rubs, adores food, and is a total cuddle bug.

Martin has grown very attached to Taka and is considering adopting him, although she admits her household — with five dogs and a 7-month-old baby — may not be the perfect fit for a dog who needs extra care.

If Taka does go up for adoption, Martin is committed to finding him the best forever home, one that understands just how special he is.

“He went through something so traumatic and painful, and yet he never gave up. He’s incredibly resilient.”