“I don’t have kids, so those are my kids,” Gary Lopez said of his pups

NEED TO KNOW

• A Florida family was reunited with their two missing dogs after a massive fire destroyed their longtime auto businesses
• The family feared the dogs, Fantasma and Mimi, had died in the blaze before hearing barking coming from the rubble
• The family has since launched a GoFundMe to help support employees and their families as they try to rebuild

A South Florida family is breathing a sigh of relief after being reunited with their missing dogs following a massive fire that destroyed their businesses.

The fire broke out on a block in the city of Opa-locka the evening of Monday, May 25, destroying JC Motors and Gary Used Auto Parts, both owned by the Lopez family for over 30 years, according to NBC Miami and Local 10 News.

Even more devastating, the family initially feared their two beloved dogs, Fantasma and Mimi, had been killed in the blaze, per NBC Miami.

"I don't have kids, so those are my kids," Gary Lopez, the grown son of the owners and store manager, said while speaking about his connection to the pups.

Gary said he waited outside the smoldering rubble nearly all night — and eventually heard the dogs barking more than 17 hours after the fire broke out.

The dogs ran toward Gary and fell on their backs for belly rubs.

"That feeling can't be beat," he said of the reunion, his voice filled with emotion. "These are smart dogs."

"I just felt relief," he added. "That's like, your best friend."

Lopez's mother, who was also there for the emotional reunion, cried when she saw the dogs, shouting, “You're saved!” in Spanish.

There were no reported injuries in the fire, and authorities are investigating the cause of the incident, per a statement from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

While the Lopez family is thrilled to have their pets back, they say their future remains uncertain now that their source of income has been destroyed.

“This place meant the world to us — income, our everything — now left stranded,” Gary said while speaking to Local 10 News.

“This was devastating. It's not two days, you know, it's 30 years,” he added. “My father started as an employee, worked his way up and eventually got the opportunity to buy it.”

The family has since established a GoFundMe to help themselves and “11 employees and families now facing the uncertainty of losing their jobs.”

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“Behind every employee there is a home, children, and loved ones who depend on this business to move forward,” they wrote on the fundraising page.

“Every dollar truly makes a difference, because little by little, everything can be rebuilt,” they added.

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