This Atlanta Man Risked His Life To Save Over A Dozen Animals From A Fire

He’s a hero!

While getting ready to walk his pit bull, Bravo, Keith Walker risked his life to save animals from the W-Underdogs animal shelter on Dec. 18. The 58-year old Atlanta man rushed into the building, which was engulfed in flames after a fire started in the kitchen.

“I was nervous as hell, I’m not going to lie. I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals,” Walker told CNN. “If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn’t be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs.”

W-Underdogs founder, Gracie Hamlin, said she couldn’t thank Walker enough for saving the animals. Hamlin has known Walker, who’s been experiencing homelessness since he was 13-years-old because she lets him keep his dog at the shelter at night.

“He is my guardian angel,” Hamlin told reporters. “Even the firefighters didn’t want to handle the dogs. They called animal control, but Keith was already in the building pulling out the cats and dogs until they were all safe.”

Walker was en route to pick up Bravo for a walk when he saw the fire. He saved all 16 animals – six dogs and 10 cats.

The Atlanta Fire Department said the cause was an electrical fire. The firefighters were unable to stop the fire before it destroyed the building’s structure; however shelter officials said they had plans to move to a new facility before the fire. The lease on the shelter’s new headquarters began the next day, Dec. 19.

“While the new facility is not exactly ‘move-in ready’ we were able to move the animals safely into the new facility for the night. They are all happy, warm, safe, and comfortable in their new temporary home,” Hamlin said in a Facebook post on Dec. 19.

To support W-Underdogs and the animal’s transition, Hamlin created a GoFundMe campaign to help offset expenses. Donations to the organization can also be made directly here. The founder has also requested elected dog beds, moving blankets, cat trees, food, and refrigerators for vaccines. They’ve curated an Amazon wishlist of items needed for the shelter.

The shelter’s founder has also requested that donors consider gifting large elevated dog beds, moving blankets and thick blankets, cat trees, sanitation wipes, paper towels, dog food and refrigerators for vaccines. The organization has also curated an Amazon wish list full of other items needed for its shelter.

We need more people like you, Keith! 

Photo Credit: CNN