A dog who survived being doused in gasoline and locked inside a burning home in 2018 is now the star of a new children's book, with a launch event set for Saturday at East Lake Community Library in Palm Harbor. Denali, an American Staffordshire pit bull mix, suffered third-degree chemical burns across 35 to 40 percent of her body during the attack in Lutz, and she has spent the years since becoming a certified therapy dog who comforts domestic violence survivors across the Tampa Bay area.
Denali’s owner, Karey Burek, has spoken publicly about the dog’s journey. Burek is affiliated with Suncoast Animal League, a Palm Harbor nonprofit. Denali first went to Pasco County Animal Services, which called Suncoast Animal League for her transfer.
A Rescue Born From Tragedy
Denali was trapped inside a burning home in Lutz in August 2018, according to Patch. Voyage Tampa describes her as collateral damage in a domestic dispute. The fire was intentionally set by the estranged wife of Denali's owner while he was deployed in Iraq, the outlet reported. Pasco County Fire Rescue pulled Denali from the home, and she beat what WTSP reported was a 50 percent survival estimate by undergoing 16 days of intensive care at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa, followed by several months of outpatient bandage changes.
Karey Burek, a volunteer medical foster and rescue coordinator with Suncoast Animal League, transported Denali on the day of her rescue and officially adopted her six months later on Valentine's Day in 2019, according to reporting shared by Voyage Tampa. Burek specializes in fostering high-needs medical rescue cases for the rescue group. In 2018, Brandi Corrigan faced felony arson and felony animal cruelty charges in Pasco County, according to Patch.
From Survivor To Certified Therapy Dog
Denali now visits a domestic violence shelter in Clearwater every week to comfort abuse survivors, WTSP reported.
A Book Built For Young Readers
The national book launch is scheduled for Saturday at the East Lake Community Library in Palm Harbor, with three storytimes, and is hosted by the Animal Welfare Institute, according to the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative.
Pets can be part of domestic violence situations, making it important for survivors to have ways to keep them safe during a crisis.
