Yorkie found after Bryceville wildfire finds new home

'Bryce' adopted by family chosen from over 100 volunteers

BRYCEVILLE, Fla. – A dog found wandering in Bryceville after a 700-acre wildfire forced dozens of families from their homes last month found a new family on Friday.

The Yorkshire terrier, nicknamed “Bryce” by his rescuers, was adopted from Nassau County Animal Services by a lucky owner who was one of more than 100 to volunteer to make Bryce part of their family.

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He was found the day after the fire broke out on March 23 in Nassau County and taken to the animal shelter. Workers there posted photos of him online that went viral, but they weren't able to find Bryce's family, so they put him up for adoption.

Of the more than 100 families who volunteered to adopt Bryce, workers at Nassau County Animal Services thought that Tonya McClure – and her family of Yorkies -- was a perfect match.

“I love Yorkies. They are the sweetest dogs, and I will be so happy to get this poor scared fellow home,” McClure said Friday after meeting Bryce. “I think it was meant to be.”

But McClure said if Bryce's original owner comes forward she will give him back in a heartbeat.

“Because I would want my dog back if I lost it,” she said.

That willingness to return Bryce to his owner is one of the reasons McClure was chosen to take him home, Animal Services Director Tim Maguire said.

“The deciding factor was the little note written on the back of the application stating that they would be willing to return the dog to its original owner, if they came forward at some point,” Maguire said.

Bryce is lucky to have a new home, but many dogs and cats at the shelter are still in need of forever families.

Anyone interested in adopting an animal from the shelter can contact Nassau County Animal Services at 904-530-6150 or go to the shelter's website for more information.


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Lifetime Jacksonville resident anchors the 8 and 9 a.m. weekday newscasts and is part of the News4Jax I-Team.