Family dog that went missing during massive house explosion in Prince William County found

WASHINGTON (7News) — After a massive home explosion left two families displaced in Prince William County, the homeowner told 7News they were relieved they walked out of it alive but were unsure if their pets made it out.

“I lost two pets and my best friend lost one of his really young pets he didn't have for more than a couple of years. I lost a 10-year best friend, and a 4-year-old cat that was very much a part of our family,” Jarrett Struniak told 7News after the explosion. “Nothing is going to be able to bring them back unless, somehow, they made it out alive, which I hope they did. Who knows where they are at this point if they did?”

Struniak lived in the house that exploded with his fiance and young daughter, and another family was living in the home.

But on Monday, Prince William County fire officials said the family's dog was located.

Fire crews were called to the back of the scene of the home on the 5900 block of Colby Hunt Court Monday morning for a report of a barking dog in the debris. Crews at the scene immediately heard the dog under an area of the collapsed home and worked to save it.

With the help of structure collapse stabilization shoring techniques and coaxing from the dog's owner, fire crews were able to rescue the dog from the rubble.

The dog is said to be in “good shape” and was happy to be free.

On Oct. 15, the families were displaced after a house exploded in Haymarket, Va., as firefighters were on the scene responding to a gas leak. The home was evacuated in time and four adults and two young children survived.

RELATED | Prince William County house explodes as firefighters respond to gas leak

Prince William County Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Kim Stewart told 7News this all began when a contractor was digging into the ground in the neighborhood to repair a water main.

After a malfunction, Stewart said the contractor hit a gas line and it ruptured. The home was left completely destroyed.Two other homes, one on either side of the explosion site, sustained minor damage.