Sebastian Arias: Homeless Man Saves 25 Dogs From A Burning Building In Peru

A video of a homeless man saving 25 puppies after a fire broke out in a recycling plant in Lima, Peru, and spread to a dog shelter is going viral on social media.

Sebastian Arias was walking down the street in Lima’s La Victoia neighborhood when he noticed a recycling plant on fire. The flames from the plant had also spread to a nearby dog shelter. Although some of the animals had been freed, many were still trapped inside, out of reach due to the smoke and fire.

Arias went ahead and saved the remaining animals trapped inside, thinking of his own dog. He scaled the facade, smashed the windows, and assisted in the rescue of the puppies from the fire.

Arias had previously worked at the recycling plant and was aware that there was a dog shelter nearby. Because he was aware of this, he acted quickly.

He can be seen reaching the terrace of the building through the balcony in a viral video posted on Twitter by (@AlertaMundial2) to save a puppy who was stranded on the rooftop.

🇵🇪🐶🙏 | ¡HÉROE! Un hombre salvó a 25 perritos de un incendio que alcanzó a un refugio de animales en Cercado de Lima, Perú. pic.twitter.com/LUaETXOcoh

— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) June 10, 2023

The footage shows a large amount of smoke rising from within the structure. All of this was ignored by the good Samaritan as he rushed to the top of the building, grabbed the dog, and dropped the canine onto the mattress that other bystanders were holding below. People can be heard applauding and celebrating as he saves the dog, and a ladder is set up for him to descend.

Arias discussed what prompted him to act quickly in the situation in an interview with Latina Noticias. “I was walking down thinking about my wife when I noticed the fire and the dog in the corner,” he explained. “I have this lovely little dog, and I wouldn’t want him to burn to death.” I wouldn’t want my dog to die like that, hearing their cries and moans.”

Arias, who is currently homeless, is said to be living under a bridge in Peru’s capital’s Gamrra neighborhood. In addition, he is looking for his missing wife. Despite his personal hardships, the man did not hesitate to assist the puppies.

“The last dog was scary because the wall was about to collapse on top of me,” Arias explained. “The dog already had burns, his clothes were already burned, so I aggressively grabbed him by the neck and then grabbed him by the snout and released it.”

Soledad Renteria, the owner of the dog shelter, was out when the fire broke out. She had been rescuing stray dogs and placing them in loving homes for over 12 years. She has asked people to adopt the dogs after losing her home to fire.

“I ask that all (the puppies) find homes, that they care for them as they would their own children, that they love them and give them affection,” Renteria said. The only thing they can’t do is communicate, but they understand and listen to you. You must be compassionate.”

Ruben Cano, the mayor of La Victoria, has adopted one of the dogs, Lulu. The dogs are currently housed in another dog shelter in the hopes that they will all find homes.

“We are working with the Association for the Protection of Animals, specifically, to find them a home, so that they are well treated by responsible people and have a better life,” Cano said.