The moment Oreo ran out of the smoke and into his owner’s arms during the Palisades Fire was seen across the country.
The small dog had been missing for days amid evacuations and fast-moving flames. When cameras captured his sudden reunion with owner Casey Colvin, the video spread quickly — symbolizing hope in the middle of disaster.
One year later, that moment has helped change California law.
Colvin now lives with Oreo in the Central Valley, far from wildfire-prone hillsides. He says the move has brought a sense of calm he once thought he had lost.
“It’s different. Quiet… it’s nice,” Colvin said.
The Palisades Fire forced widespread evacuations, leaving many pet owners unable to return to search for animals left behind. NBC News documented Colvin’s frantic efforts as flames approached his home and Oreo remained missing.
“How do I get to my house?” Colvin asked at the time, focused on finding his dog rather than saving his belongings.
Colvin later shared phone videos — some never previously released — showing his neighborhood burning and his search through ash-covered hillsides. He posted flyers, walked miles, and refused to stop looking.
Though Oreo survived, Colvin says the emotional impact remains.
“Every time I leave my house, I think my house is going to burn down,” he said. “I hope that goes away soon.”
Instead of stepping back, Colvin turned that fear into advocacy.
He helped push for the passage of California Assembly Bill 478, known as the FOUND Act or Friends of Oreo Uniting During Disasters. The law requires cities and counties to create formal plans to rescue pets during evacuations, establish emergency pet hotlines, and hold found animals longer before placing them for adoption.
The legislation is the first of its kind in the nation.
“We were able to get an animal rescue law passed within 11 months,” Colvin said. “That’s totally crazy.”
Colvin says the effort was never about attention.
“I don’t have children — human children,” he said. “These are my fur kids.”
Since relocating, Colvin’s family has grown. He recently adopted another rescue dog, Pumpkin, who now runs alongside Oreo and Colvin’s older dog, Teeka.
In a place far removed from wildfire danger, Colvin says his home finally feels whole again.