The following is a network group post shared with permission:
Hello everyone,
I just read the story about the Portland pet sitter. It is so amazing and both heart-breaking & heart-warming at the same time. I am so glad to read about the happy ending and that everyone was ok. I also wanted to share a story of my own. I did not say anything about this before now, but after the 4th of July and alot of "accidents" here in my area I feel like sharing a happy ending.
About a month ago I was in the middle of a routine weekday. It was around 2pm and I had couple hours to spare. I decided to go home and check on my own fur babies. As I turned into my subdivision I noticed that the house 2 doors down from mine had smoke coming from the back. It was too dark and thick to me. I parked my truck and as I was getting out another neighbor came out.
I know that they have a little girl around 7yr and 2 dogs. Both the neighbor and I ran to the house and began banging on the door. Nobody was home. The other neighbor knew some relation of the home owner and called them. They said that the uncle had picked up the little girl about 20 minutes ago so nobody was there. The home owners were at work. So as someone else was on the phone with 911, I immediately thought about the dogs. One is a larger pit mix and the other is a Min Pin. Everyone in the neighborhood was pretty much afraid of them both. I knew that the little one was kept in a kennel inside.
I could not just sit there and wait as smoke filled the house and the flames rose to the second floor. Nobody seemed to want to help an animal. I ran around to the back of the house and one man followed. He saw a hose and turned it on to start spraying the house. I started checking doors. The garage service door was unlocked. So I went in. I got into the house and heard the sirens coming. I started searching for the kennel. The firemen arrived and broke into the front door. Before I could grab him the large dog who was loose darted immediately out the front door. One of the fireman made me leave. I argued that I had to find the other dog. They said they would get him.
Once the fire was out they came out and still no dog. I was almost in tears. I ran up to them and said kind of loudly they had to get him out! They said the dog ran out earlier. I said no, there are 2 and the one in there is in a kennel. One kind fireman turned immediately around and ran back in. The house was full of such awful smoke. After a couple minutes he came walking out carrying the little guy but he was not moving. He came over to me and said hold him. I started CPR and he got an oxygen tank. We got him revived. He was a bit stressed and started biting at everything. The fireman still had his gloves on but I didn't. I ended up having to go get stitches. :-(
But in the end it was all worth it. Oh, and the large dog that ran out was so scared he went to a ravine and hid down in the muddy water. I went with a couple people and a slip lead (and a box of treats) and was able to get him on a leash. Both dogs came to my house while we waited for the home owner to get home.
They had to leave their home and for the past month there have been restoration people working around the clock. We don't know what started the fire.
I am just glad that I happened to be coming home that day. Right place at the right time I guess. I know that there is a good chance that the dogs would not have made it. Especially the little one that nobody saw.
People said what did I get out of it? Why did I get involved? Well I did not get a thank you, I got to breath smoke, got bitten, went to the ER & got stitches, had to give reports to police, fireman and the Humane society. But what I got out of it is the peace of mind knowing that I helped save 2 dogs.
I cannot explain the joy I felt when the big guy licked my face from the muddy water & when the little one opened his eyes and took a breath. That is the best part. I would do it again.
I can only hope and pray that if God forbid something were to ever happen to my home and my furry babies someone would do the same for them.
So that is my story. Hope you all don't mind that I shared.
Thanks!