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Dog rescued from tenement two weeks after blaze

Missing Pets Perth and Kinross a small dog with brown fur and pointed earsMissing Pets Perth and Kinross
Vilo was rescued after being spotted at a window in the Scott Street flats

A chihuahua has been rescued from a building destroyed by fire in Perth after surviving for nearly two weeks in the tenement.

The puppy called Vilo was feared dead in the Scott Street fire which happened on 14 June.

Vilo was later spotted in the window of the tenement building by nearby residents.

After pinpointing her location with thermal imaging, Vilo took food and drink from traps left by demolition workers and was eventually lured out by leaving clothes belonging to her owners on 27 June.

Stuart Cowper Fire rips through the upper floors of a tenement block at nightStuart Cowper
The building was destroyed in the blaze on 14 June

A man died in the fire and an eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man were taken to hospital.

More than 50 families were evacuated during the blaze, which happened at about 01:50.

Following Vilo's rescue, she was checked over by a vet and was found to have suffered no ill-effects.

Vilo had managed to make herself a bed in a wardrobe, where she escaped the noise and disruption of the demolition work.

Katie McCandless from the charity Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, who helped with the rescue, said: "She does not have a single mark on her and her paw pads are completely fine.

"She smells a bit of smoke but had minimal smoke inhalation. She really is a miracle dog"

The dog belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed on the top-floor of the tenement.

Maros Ridaj said: "We are very happy that the dog is safe and has been returned to us."

Missing Pets Perth and Kinross A thermal image of the interior of a flat taken from above Missing Pets Perth and Kinross
Vilo was found using thermal imaging cameras

Ms Candless said it was the first case of its type she had seen in the 14 years she has run the charity.

She said: "This is a little bit of hope in some dark times.

"We knew it was a delicate situation and had to be handled sensitively, a lot of residents have lost everything."

Councillor Eric Drysdale, deputy leader of Perth and Kinross Council said: "We know there are people still grieving after the fire because of the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes and the impact on businesses nearby.

"But this amazing rescues is emblematic of the kindness people have shown in the wake of the tragedy – and the extra mile people have been willing to go to help others affected by this awful situation."