Woman finds beloved dog alive in her burned-out home; Lola the dachshund survived for a month by finding food and water in wreckage

Woman finds beloved dog alive in her burned-out home

Lola the dachshund survived for a month by finding food and water in wreckage

AP BOSTON -- A Boston woman who thought her beloved dachshund was gone forever after a fire destroyed her apartment a month ago found the pet Monday living in the wreckage of her burned-out home.

Terisa Acevedo moved in with relatives after the Feb. 23 fire. She returned to the apartment Monday when her landlord asked her to turn off the alarm on a vehicle in the driveway.

The 24-year-old Acevedo heard scratching, pulled away the plywood covering the doorway and found the year-old pup, Lola.

Veterinarians at Boston's Angell Animal Medical Center said the dog somehow found food and water in the home. They say it is expected to fully recover.

Lola was diagnosed with "refeeding syndrome," a condition that requires a careful reintroduction of food to prevent life-threatening complications in malnourished patients. Veterinarians gave Lola her first meal Wednesday and the dog is now being fed 16 grams -- slightly more than the weight of three nickels -- of wet food every six hours, officials said.