An impulsive act of courage in the face of rising flames turned into a life-altering ordeal for one San Antonio resident.
On May 22, 2025, Zain Cano suffered life-threatening burns when he ran into a burning duplex to rescue his dog. Now, nearly a month later, he is asking for public help after emerging from the hospital to find his family displaced and his future uncertain.
In a June 18 post on the r/gofundme subreddit, Cano shared a photo of himself in bandages next to the remains of his home. He described how the fire began while he was working on his motorcycle, noting that he didn’t secure the fuel line. Therefore, gasoline leaked onto the carpet and ignited.
Lost my bike and 40% of my skin in a house fire
byu/ShitTits94 inmotorcycle
Though he was the only person home at the time and initially escaped, he returned inside upon realizing his dog Clarence was still trapped. Cano explained that he spent nearly a month in the hospital and suffered burns covering 40 percent of his body.
I lost my home and 40% of my skin, I spent a month in the hospital and me and my family need help with housing
byu/ShitTits94 ingofundme
He said his family was now homeless and staying in a motel, which they couldn’t afford for much longer. With no savings left and an extended recovery ahead, Cano added that he was unable to work and might not be able to for at least another month.
He was considering buying a camper as a temporary solution, but expressed concern about keeping the space clean enough to safely change his bandages and avoid infection. “I hate asking for help,” he wrote, “but if I can get any assistance I would be so grateful.”
The fire was reported around 10 p.m. on May 22 at a duplex off East Carson Street near North Pine Street in San Antonio, Texas. When firefighters arrived, flames were already visible, and they found Cano lying outside the building.
He was rushed to the hospital with confirmed burns estimated to cover 30 to 40 percent of his body. Emergency calls had been made by neighbors who heard an explosion. At the time, officials said the cause of the fire was still under investigation.
Meanwhile, Jenna Carter, Cano’s girlfriend who lives with him, created a GoFundMe campaign to support his recovery. In the description, she wrote that she had been at the store when the fire broke out in the living room.
By the time she returned, the duplex was fully engulfed. She then repeated the story Cano shared on Reddit about his dog, adding, “Fortunately, they both made it back out alive.”
Additionally, Carter expressed that Cano couldn’t move around without a walker and was unable to use his hands. She said they need to find a temporary, handicap-friendly living space so he can continue to receive care while healing.
“We are asking for help so we can afford to relocate for a few months. Anything that’s able to be contributed will help immensely,” she wrote. As of this writing, the fundraiser has collected $7,317 toward a $9,000 goal from 153 donations.
Meanwhile, Cano’s Facebook profile photos detailed how much he loved his dog as he took Clarence on trips to the beach, hiking, and more. He can also be seen caring for other dogs, like in a post where he found a set of puppies and wanted to find them homes. We wish him a speedy recovery.
Sadly, another similarly heroic story ended in tragedy. As previously reported, The Plaistow community in New Hampshire is mourning the loss of Alicia Leonardi, whose life came to a tragic end as a result of a fatal accident involving a train on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Leonardi’s family, including her mother, has spoken out about the sad news, painting a glowing picture of the kindhearted and happy person the late 42-year-old was — someone who lost her life saving a dog.
According to reports, Leonardi had been walking with her ex-boyfriend and his dog, Jackson, through a wooded area near the Newfields Road trestle when tragedy struck. The peaceful outing turned dire when an Amtrak train barreled around a corner unexpectedly.
Alarmed by the sound of the horn, the dog darted onto the tracks. In a desperate effort to save him, both Leonardi and the man she was with raced after the animal.
She and her ex ended up being hit by the train. Though Jackson emerged unharmed, the attempt cost Leonardi her life. She was pronounced dead at the scene, while her ex sustained only minor injuries.
“She loved that dog, that dog was everything to her,” divulged Cathleen Collis, Leonardi’s mother. Collis described her daughter as “a very happy, smiling, bubbly girl” whose energy lit up every room she entered.
“I’m going to miss her very much,” she added. The suddenness of the incident has left Leonardi’s family and friends reeling and struggling to come to terms with the enormity of their loss.
Leonardi’s cousin, Joe Gatley, reflected on her resilience and recent progress in life. “She had some tough times,” he acknowledged. “We’ve been doing really well in life right now, and it’s just a tragedy.”
Leonardi, who lived in Manchester, was working at a restaurant and had hoped to return to school to study skincare. A close friend of hers dubbed her a one-of-a-kind person with a heart of gold.
The same friend went on to highlight how deeply Leonardi will be missed by everyone in her life, especially her 24-year-old daughter, Faith Bishop.
Speaking out about the tragedy, Bishop told reporters that her mother meant everything to her. Additionally, the family has vowed to keep Leonardi’s spirit alive and honor the life she lived. “Live every day to the fullest,” Gatley urged. “Because, you know, tomorrow’s not — there’s no guarantee.”
Civilians who live near the train track where Leonardi’s life was lost shared that this tragedy is not the first instance they have heard about someone getting hit by a train.
“Oh, it’s just horrendous to hear about, especially in such a way. We live right next to the tracks, right? Obviously, you don’t think about the dangers here,” noted Exeter resident Al Spinale.
In the wake of the accident, the Exeter Police Department issued an official statement expressing their condolences and confirming that they are working closely with Amtrak and CSX Police on the investigation.
According to their report, the fatal incident occurred at approximately 3:24 p.m., prompting a response from both Exeter Police and Fire/Rescue personnel. They were called to the wooded section of the outbound train tracks after the event was reported by train authorities.
