Photo courtesy of The W-Underdogs
On December 18th, 2020, The W-Underdogs building (an organization that works with at-risk youth teaching the kids animal-rescue skills based in the Atlanta area) caught fire. At the time, Keith Walker was passing by, who was aware that there were animals inside the building, didn’t think twice before rushing in and risking his own life to save them.
In a CNN interview, Walker, a self-proclaimed dog lover, commented, “I was nervous as hell, I’m not going to lie. I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals. If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn’t be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs.”
Becoming A Hero
Since then the story became newsworthy and has gone viral, Walker’s heroic actions were able to rescue six dogs and 10 cats from the flames. Walker, 53, has been without a home since he was 13 yrs old.
Grace Hamlin who is the founder of The W-Underdogs organization lived in the house that also served as the organization’s facility. Hamlin and Walker have known each other for a while since Walker lives in the area. Walker has helped her with odd jobs over the years, and Hamlin has provided food and shelter for Bravo, Walker’s dog.
Nowhere To Go
All of the animals at the facility were safely rescued thanks to Walker, and the Fire Department was able to put out the fire and save the structure of the building. The building, however, is not currently habitable, leaving Hamlin without a home as well.
Thankfully, the agedness of the building helped prevent the fire (caused by an electrical malfunction) from spreading faster. At the time of the fire there were two dogs in the kitchen, but luckily, both dogs left unharmed. The two dogs have been with the organization for a long time now. “They are much loved and adored by everybody who meets them, including the kids,” said Victoria Stilwell who is a dog behavior expert and advisory board member for The W-Underdogs. “If the fire department hadn’t put out the fire and if Keith hadn’t seen the fire and got his friend to call 911, those dogs would have perished.”
“I can’t thank him enough for saving my animals,” Hamlin told CNN. “I’m still in disbelief, because I’ve been around a fire and I know how fast they flare up. He is my hero.”
The mission: Helping Kids Who Help Dogs
Hamlin, a former veteran, founded The W-Underdogs Organization six years ago with the intention of empowering young people through animal rescue. “Part of that is teaching compassion and empathy not just toward animals but to your fellow human,” Stilwell said. “Grace wanted to be able to give these kids something to do, get them off the streets, and give them a skill. What better way than by helping her with the dogs.” The youth organization also teaches children leadership skills and self-esteem.
Stilwell and Hamlin met four years ago at a seminar in Atlanta, GA. Hamlin’s mission impressed Stilwell right away. “I thought, ‘How can I help using my skills to help with the dogs?’ Plus, I’m passionate about helping kids,” Stilwell said. It was a natural fit. Since then Stilwell has been helping with rescue and with outreach as well.
It’s All About Community
When Stilwell received the phone call to inform her about the fire, she drove down to the facility to help relocate the animals. “I was shocked,” she said. “I came down with my van and we loaded some cats and one of our big pit bulls named Batman into the vehicle. I didn’t know Batman very well but he was just so worried. I just talked to him and stroked him on the chest telling him it’s going to be OK. He put his paw on my arm.”
During the rescue, Walker did not suffer any injuries (thankfully), and the pets did not require any medical attention. One building that was donated to the Organization a while back served to shelter the animals. Members of The W-Underdogs team took immediate action setting drop off points through different areas in the community to collect blankets and other much-needed supplies to replace the ones destroyed by the fire.
“It just shows that when something like that happens, you give to the community, but the community then gives back,” Stilwell said. All through the week volunteers showed up to walk the dogs and help with the pets.
Just Doing The Right Thing
Keith Walker is not looking for any recognition, he is a humble man who doesn’t want or ask for much; spending time with his dog Bravo whenever he can is what he cares about. “I think that says a lot about Keith Walker,” Stilwell said. “He mustered the courage to do it because he loves animals and he also wanted to give back to Grace. He probably thought, ‘If I don’t do it, nobody else is here, and they’ll die.’ ”
“When things like this happen, the best of human behavior comes out and it reminds you that the majority of people are good and kind and giving,” Stilwell added. “I think that’s what experiences like this truly teach you.”
A GoFundMe page has been verified for Keith Walker by The W-Underdogs. As stated on The W-Underdogs Facebook page, “Rest assured we have Mr. Walker’s best interests at heart, and are exploring how to best manage donations that have come in on his behalf.” If you would like to help Keith Walker, please donate here.
Temporary accommodations have been arranged for Hamlin, who was left without a home and “will be fine,” Stilwell said.
If you would like to help The W-Underdogs continue its mission, you can donate here.
For more information on The W-Underdogs, and to learn about its adoptable pets, you can visit their website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
