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Dog found hiding in home after fire
"Mocha" survived, home destroyed
Updated: Tuesday, 12 Jun 2012, 5:14 PM EDT
Published : Saturday, 09 Jun 2012, 5:19 PM EDT
WALKER, Mich. (WOOD) -
A Walker family got a pleasant surprise after the devastating news that their home was burning.
No one was home when the fire started on Mohler Street in Walker just before 5 p.m. Saturday which meant no one could have freed the family dog, Mocha.
But after the flames were doused and firefighters went inside, they made what the family is calling a 'miracle' discovery.
Mocha survived.
Paid on-call Walker firefighter Phil McCormack III said he found Mocha hiding in a pile of debris in a bathroom.
"(Mocha) was in good shape for the most part," McCormack said. "There (she) was huddled up next to the toilet."
The home belonged to the Feringa family and some of the couple's children came to the scene after learning of the fire.
They were surprised to see Mocha walk out of the house.
Firefighters, equipped with oxygen masks designed for dogs, rendered some aid to Mocha but within minutes, she was up shaking off the water and wagging her tail.
"That was wonderful to see," said Rob Feringa, a son of the couple that owned the home. "That's the only person in there. The rest of them were all out of town."
He says he referred to Mocha as a person because he sees her as a member of the family.
Saturday evening firefighters were still working to determine what caused the fire. They suspect it started outside of the attached garage and spread. A downed power line found near the home is being investigated as the possible source of the fire.
Some of the men who worked in the warm Saturday afternoon sun to fight the fire said finding Mocha made their day.
Walker Fire Capt. Don Munn said most rewarding part of the day was seeing the family as Mocha came out of the house.
"To see them and how happy they were to see that dog walk out just made it all worth while."
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