This is one lovely young man. After saving his owner from a fire, a two-year-old dog is being recognised as a hero.
When a fire broke out in an RV in Clovis, Calif., at 3 a.m., Charlie the Labradoodle woke up his owner Chad McCollum and refused to stop barking until he observed the smoke and flames – and called 911.
"I walk over to the corner of the yard where he's barking and I see a plume of smoke up in the sky and kind of an orange glow," McCollum recalled to local news station ABC-30.
Charlie's owner promptly awakened the residents inside the neighbouring burning homes and rescued them. Ultimately, no one was hurt, and the fires were put out by the Clovis and Fresno fire departments.
The Clovis Fire Department is now honouring Charlie, who is also part Dalmatian. "Members of the Clovis Fire Department later delivered a fire hat and badge to Charlie as a thank you, and neighbours dropped off a'medal' for the four-legged hero," the fire department said in a Facebook statement.
According to the fire department, Charlie also received some gifts from his owner, which included "a special treat or two later that day."
"This incident serves as a great reminder that dogs are amazing," the statement said. Indeed, just this month, a three-year-old pit bull and Lab mix rescued its owner's one-year-old daughter from a Detroit house fire.
"Also, Charlie can't be everywhere at once, so please make sure your home has working smoke alarms." Charlie, you're a good kid!"
The cause of the fire is still being investigated.
