Heroic Homeless Man Rushes Into Burning Building to Save Nearly 20 Vulnerable Pets

Walker’s heroic movements have turn into newsworthy and his tale has long past viral. But most significantly six canine and 10 cats have been stored as a result of the selflessness of Walker, 53, who has been homeless since he was once 13.

Grace Hamlin, founding father of The W-Underdogs, lived in the house that doubled because the group’s facility. She has identified Walker for a while. He lives within the subject and he or she has presented him atypical jobs through the years whilst additionally offering meals and in a single day safe haven for his canine, Bravo.

A hearth truck and The W-Underdogs van is parked out of doors of the group’s middle that doubled as Grace Hamlin’s house. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs

Walker was once ready to safely rescue all of the animals from the burning house, and the fireplace division was once ready to extinguish the fireplace. The remainder of the construction was once stored however was once uninhabitable, which additionally left Hamlin with no house.

One of the canine is being loaded into the Fulton County Animal Services truck for shipping to the brand new middle. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs

The construction is previous so that they have been fortunate that what grew to become out to be an electrical fireplace didn’t unfold sooner, particularly since there have been two canine within the kitchen. The canine are better ones that the group has had for a very long time. “They are much loved and adored by everybody who meets them, including the kids,” Stilwell mentioned. “If the fire department hadn’t put out the fire and if Keith hadn’t seen the fire and got his friend to call 911, those dogs would have perished.”

Another canine waits in a automobile to be transported to The W-Underdogs’ new transient middle. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs

Former veteran Hamlin based The W-Underdogs six years in the past as a grassroots group to empower early life thru animal rescue. “Part of that is teaching compassion and empathy not just toward animals but to your fellow human,” Stilwell mentioned. “Grace wanted to be able to give these kids something to do, get them off the streets, and give them a skill. What better way than by helping her with the dogs.” The early life group additionally teaches kids management abilities and about vanity.

A cat is protected at The W-Underdogs’ transient middle as a result of Keith Walker. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs

Stilwell met Hamlin at a seminar 4 years in the past in Atlanta. Stilwell was once very inspired after finding out about Hamlin’s venture. “I thought, ‘How can I help using my skills to help with the dogs?’ Plus, I’m passionate about helping kids,” Stilwell mentioned. It was once a herbal have compatibility. Stilwell has been serving to with rescue and with outreach as neatly.

After receiving a telephone name, Stilwell drove down the evening of the fireplace to assist relocate the animals. “I was shocked,” she mentioned. “I came down with my van and we loaded some cats and one of our big pit bulls named Batman into the vehicle. I didn’t know Batman very well but he was just so worried. I just talked to him and stroked him on the chest telling him it’s going to be OK. He put his paw on my arm.”

Thankfully, Walker was once now not injured throughout the rescue, and not one of the animals mandatory scientific consideration. The animals have been transported to any other construction, person who was once prior to now donated to The W-Underdogs for a duration of 2 years. They at the beginning have been scheduled to transfer into that construction at first of January however have been ready to get in quicker since that they had the keys.

After the fireplace, the neighborhood got here in combination and donated meals, blankets, and different provides. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs

The W-Underdogs staff sprang into motion in an instant putting in place other spaces in order that neighborhood individuals may just drop off blankets and different much-needed pieces as a result of many provides have been destroyed within the fireplace. People introduced blankets and meals for the animals, too. “It just shows that when something like that happens, you give to the community, but the community then gives back,” Stilwell mentioned. Afterward, volunteers got here by means of throughout the week to assist with the animals and to stroll the canine.

A hero’s badge isn’t one thing Walker is most likely to put on. He’s a person who Stilwell describes as humble and who doesn’t need or ask for far; he simply needs to be together with his canine Bravo when he can. “I think that says a lot about Keith Walker,” Stilwell mentioned. “He mustered the courage to do it because he loves animals and he also wanted to give back to Grace. He probably thought, ‘If I don’t do it, nobody else is here, and they’ll die.’ ”

“When things like this happen, the best of human behavior comes out and it reminds you that the majority of people are good and kind and giving,” Stilwell added. “I think that’s what experiences like this truly teach you.”

Two canine are protected on the transient The W-Underdogs’ facility. Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs