Wasilla man runs into burning home to try and save a stranger's dogs

(KTUU)
Published: Jun. 17, 2018 at 9:51 PM AKDT
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A Wasilla man ran into a burning home Saturday evening to try and save three dogs — despite not personally knowing the homeowners.

Joshua Cropper, the owner of HPR Working Dogs, says he was driving home around 9:00 p.m. when he saw black smoke billowing from his neighbor’s house.

He approached the home and saw the family standing distraught on the lawn. Cropper says that he knew the family owned four dogs “but there was only one outside.”

Realizing three dogs were inside and in peril, he and friend Tom Hanson ran inside the burning home. The two men ran up and down the stairs three times but were unable to save them.

The dogs perished but the two men stayed inside the house, despite the flames engulfing its front façade to try and save the family’s possessions.

Cropper says the two men ended up in the “lower bedroom and saved as much as possible until the flames forced us to leave.”

Ken Barkley, deputy chief of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough’s emergency services, says that units from Central Mat-Su Fire and West Lakes Fire Dept. both responded to extinguish the flames.

Sunday morning and the family was busy picking up the pieces after a fire that destroyed everything.

Cropper was visiting, dropping off dog food to people who are strangers. ”We don't know each personally, we're just neighbors.”

When asked why he’d risk his life for his neighbor’s dogs, Cropper, a dog trainer said short of dying, “there's nothing I wouldn't do to try and save a dog.”

Please share, this family can use some support. Three dogs lost, I feel horrible. Tom Hanson and I broke the back window and went in to save the dogs but couldn’t see or find them through the smoke. Can’t describe the sorrow we feel. Hug your animals and love ones as life is short and precious. We ended up in the lower bedroom and saved as much as possible until the flames forced us to leave. If anyone wants to help this family please let us know. Food and other donations for this family can be dropped off at J and J Food Market, 461 W. Parks Highway in Wasilla near Value Village. Please help this family out, write a check to Hope or Shawn Wolverton if you are willing, drop them off at J and J or mail them to 3102 E. Carney RD Wasilla Alaska and we will deliver them.

Posted by HPR Working Dogs on Sunday, June 17, 2018