When West Palm Beach Fire Rescue Capt. Gregg Gordon and his team responded to a report of a brush fire, they were told that a dog might be stuck in the thicket. It was only when they got to the scene of the fire that they discovered that the dog was not stuck: he was tied up.

Though they managed to rescue the small white and brown dog, he was covered in burns all over his body.

“The little guy was burned up pretty good.” Gordon told Palm Beach Post. “Even when we grabbed him, he was very distressed. I was concerned whether he would live.”

Firefighter Marcos Orozca was able to cut the 2 year-old dog free and rush him to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue. There, veterinarians determined that the dog was going to need lots of medical care and rehabilitation, so he was transferred to Jupiter Pet Emergency & Specialty Center (JPESC) where he could receive specialized care for his burns.

Staffers at the facility named the little dog “Smokey,” and head vet Dr. Latimer found that Smokey was going to need multiple blood transfusions, medicated baths, bandage changes, and around a dozen treatments in a hyperbaric chamber. As Latimer oversaw Smokey’s treatment, the two formed a very close bond.

Smokey began to show signs of improvement after a few weeks of treatment, and he started to show his adorable personality as well!

The plan now is for Smokey to be fostered by Captain Gregg Gordon until they can find him a permanent home. Though he still has a long road to a full recovery, he has all the love he needs to take along on that journey!

Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.

“The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, but he said fires are fairly common at these camps. Gordon believes that because the dog was chained up near a campsite, he was more of a guard of the property than a companion,” Palm Beach reported.

Recently, Smokey was taken back to JPESC for a checkup, and as soon as he saw Dr. Latimer, the dog’s reaction was priceless!

Smokey shows just how much he appreciates Dr. Latimer’s efforts to save him by showering him with kisses and hugs while he wags his tail!

Check out their emotional reunion in the video below, and SHARE this story so your friends and family can see it as well!