Rebecca and James Cooper were in the mountains just before Thanksgiving for their son’s wedding.
It was a happy time in their lives until they received a call from a neighbor. Their home in Pineywoods was engulfed in flames. Firefighters were in route.
They listened to the play-by-play of their home burning over their cell phone. They felt helpless because they were five hours away. Losing a home any time of year is brutal, but losing your home during the holidays deepens the bruise.
Argo and Town Creek volunteer fire departments responded and pumped over 12,000 gallons of water on the structure to try and put out the fire.
Firemen broke through a bedroom window trying to save Max, the Cooper’s beloved dog of 12 years. The traumatized dog ran under the bed. That’s where he died.
“Max was a part of our family,” said Cooper. Mrs. Cooper smiled as she said, “I told the kids that they would get kicked out of the house before I kick Max out. Any time I was sick or had surgery, Max was right there. He was a mama’s baby."