​Fire Fighter Adopts Dog Left Homeless

From Farmington Hills Fire: On February 27, Farmington Hills Fire Fighters and Police Officers were dispatched to a home following a report of an unresponsive person, and they soon discovered a deceased woman who had apparently lived alone. During their investigation at the house, they discovered “Banjo,” a visibly dehydrated four-year-old Boston Terrier.

While fire fighters gave Banjo some water, a friend of the resident notified the victim’s sister of what had happened. Fire fighters soon learned that no surviving family members lived in Michigan, and they were not in a position to take Banjo.

Knowing the uncertainty of the dog’s future, Sergeant/Paramedic Bryan Hewitt, Fire Fighter/Paramedic Andrew Lucki, and Fire Fighter/Paramedic Nick Newcomb contemplated Banjo’s options. In between other emergencies, they spent the remainder of the day talking about Banjo.

Later that afternoon, Nick Newcomb called his fiancée Stephanie Pann, and she agreed to the idea of adopting Banjo. Nick called the victim’s sister to ask if he could give Banjo a new home and, without hesitation, she agreed. She told him how pleased she was that her sister’s beloved dog would be well taken care of by his new family.

Once his shift was over, Nick Newcomb took Banjo home and surprised his seven-year-old daughter Brooke.

“Our department prides itself on compassionate service to the community but this story is particularly heartwarming,” said Farmington Hills Fire Chief Jon Unruh. “We extend our condolences to the family and hope that this wonderful gesture by Nick and his family will offer some small comfort during a very difficult time.”

For more information about this story, please contact James Etzin, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for the Farmington Hills Fire Department, at 248-871-2800.

Photos courtesy of Farmington Hills Fire (Brooke Newcomb, Nick Newcomb, Banjo, and Stephanie Pann, Brooke Newcomb with Banjo)