Feel Good Thread: Dog refuses leave goats amid California wildfires and survives

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A fearless goat-herding dog who refused to abandon his flock amid the deadly wildfires in California miraculously survived the flames that torched the property completely.

Roland Tembo Hendel said his family and he were shocked to see that their dog, Odin, his sister Tessa, and their eight bottle-fed goats survived the deadly Tubbs Fire that destroyed his property in Sonoma County.

He explained in a lengthy Facebook post that's gone viral how they had to leave Odin behind along with the goats after rushing to pack up their other dogs and cats to flee the fast approaching fire.

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By 11:15 they were growing larger and the winds went mad. We had loaded up the dogs and cats, but Odin, our stubborn and fearless Great Pyrenees would not leave the goats.

'Even under the best of circumstances it is nearly impossible to separate Odin from the goats after nightfall when he takes over the close watch from his sister Tessa.

'I made a decision to leave him, and I doubt I could have made him come with us if I tried.'

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He explained that suddenly the goats appeared and raced toward the family, as Odin - whiskers melted, fur burned and limping on his right leg, followed behind.

Odin, who completely lived up to the Norse god he was named after, somehow managed to protect the goats along with several baby deer during the blaze.

'Odin has lived up to his namesake,' Hendel wrote.

'Pray for him and his charges. He is our inspiration. If he can be so fearless in this maelstrom, surely so can we.'

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