Community rallies to help Australian Shepherd puppies, bearded dragon displaced by fire

The VanderDoes family was forced to temporarily re-home their pets after a devastating house fire.

The Key Peninsula Fire Department responded to the fire on the evening of Feb. 17 at the family’s Palmer Lake home.

The fire started in the garage of the home and spread to the attic, where firefighters put it out, Fire Department spokesperson Anne Nesbit told the Gateway. The cause has not yet been determined.

Marty and Amy VanderDoes were home with their three children: Aleah, 15; Kaylee, 13; and Brayden, 8.

The family and their three pets — Scooter the bearded dragon and four-month-old Australian Shepherd puppies Nala and Hope — were all able to get out of the house safely, Amy VanderDoes told the Gateway.

The VanderDoes’ home was left with severe water and smoke damage, which meant the family had to move to a nearby hotel.

During the fire, Scooter’s glass terrarium was broken.

Animal restrictions at the hotel forced the family and their pets to temporarily separate, VanderDoes said.

The family’s been in the hotel for over two weeks, away from Scooter, Nala and Hope.

A close friend, Chris Price, shared the VanderDoes’ story in community Facebook groups to help find someone who could temporarily care for the pets.

Multiple friends in the community have agreed to take care of the VanderDoes’ pets while the family is at the hotel.

The VanderDoes made Scooter, Nala, and Hope part of the family after Brayden was diagnosed with brain cancer.

“We got them for emotional support for all our kids during this hard time,” Amy VanderDoes said. “It’s been a hard and crazy time for our whole family.”

All three pets brought uplifting spirits into the home and it’s been tough being away from them, VanderDoes said.

Brayden is a second grader at Evergreen Elementary School, where Amy VanderDoes is the secretary.

In June 2022, Brayden was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a pediatric brain cancer that starts in the lower part of the brain, VanderDoes said.

Someone with medulloblastoma may experience loss of appetite, energy and balance — all things Brayden was experiencing in late 2021, VanderDoes said.

The VanderDoes spent almost all summer in the hospital last year, while Brayden had four surgeries.

During that time, Brayden also went through intensive rehabilitation to relearn how to walk and talk, followed by six weeks of radiation, VanderDoes said.

Brayden has started chemotherapy, which he’ll do until this August.

After having their home professionally examined, the VanderDoes were told it would likely take a year before they’d be able to move back in.

“That was hard to hear, but we want to make sure our house gets fixed up right and is safe, especially for Brayden’s sake as he continues his brain cancer battle,” VanderDoes said.

After searching for a rental home that could accommodate them, the VanderDoes found a house in Port Orchard.

“The owner of this home has a heart of gold and was an answer to the many prayers being said,” VanderDoes said.

It was hard to find a place that allowed puppies, she said.

“Some had age and weight requirements for the dogs,” VanderDoes said. “It was getting pretty disheartening.”

The VanderDoes will move into their Port Orchard rental home early this month, where they can reunite with Scooter, Nala and Hope.

The owner of the Port Orchard rental home could relate to the VanderDoes, because she also experienced a major house fire when she was younger, VanderDoes said.

“She was very kind and sympathetic to our situation and did everything she could to get us into this house quickly,” VanderDoes said.