Dog saves owner from fire, dies trying to rescue cat

[Sequoia]

ELKHART LAKE, Wisconsin (AP) -- After a disabled woman's cat started a house fire, her specially trained dog came to the rescue, then died trying unsuccessfully to rescue the cat.

Jamie Hanson said her 13-year-old dog Jesse brought her artificial leg and a phone she used to call 911.

"She got me outside and then she heard the cat upstairs and she went up there to get the cat, and she wouldn't come back to me," Hanson, 49, said at a news conference Monday at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center, where she was being treated for her injuries.

She received third-degree arm burns in the fire Sunday night at her home in Rhine, south of Elkhart Lake. Both pets died.


<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/10/18/hero.dog.ap/index.html

[WI_DEM]

1. what a wonderful dog and what a sad ending

[BootinUp]

2. THe dog went back in? extraordinary.

[hlthe2b]

3. Wrenching.. but clearly one dog deserving of "doggy heaven"

"Dog" = "God" in this case, for sure.

[renate]

4. all dogs go to heaven

This one will get an express ticket.

The story makes me think "at least she died doing something she loved"--taking care of somebody else. It sounds like she was an especially loving, nuturing dog and would have felt bad not doing everything she could to save the cat. Maybe I'm projecting human emotions onto an animal, but for a dog to run back into a fire... she was obviously driven by something that superceded her natural instincts.

What a sweetheart.

[BootinUp]

6. I have come to believe

animals do have emotions and that there is more there than science has yet acknowledged.

[liberalhistorian]

8. Having grown up with both dogs and cats,

and continuing to share my adulthood with them, I can assure you that dogs most certainly DO feel emotions far beyond what we would think. Cats do, too, but in their own way. Both animals understand far more than we would think, too. My childhood dog, that I had from age ten until 25, was the most emotional of all. His eyes were literally the mirror of his thoughts and emotions. People didn't believe us until they saw it for themselves. We have him on video, too, to forever capture the range of his emotions and intelligence.

When one of our other dogs, an inseparable companion of his, was hit and killed by a car, he hid under the rocking chair all day and night, making little whimpering noises and his eyes shone with sadness (I'm not making this up, we have pictures to prove it). The first time his "companion" dog (a female beagle who was a real sweetheart) was hit by a car after they'd made one of their periodic "escapes" from their yard, he ran back to our house to get us and led us right to her. When he was in his "twilight" years, he would even jump into the middle of our two other dogs whenever they would fight, physically separating them and barking at each one in turn. He was the most unique, intelligent dog I've ever known, and I've known hundreds of them in my life. He's been gone sixteen years now and I'd still give anything to see him just one more time. He visits me in my dreams sometimes, but it's not the same.

[Sequoia]

11. What a wonderful story.

Thanks for sharing.

[noonwitch]

15. I know exactly what you mean

I have a dog and a cat. My cat is 10, and she and my first dog had a really sweet bond. Miranda (the cat) came to my house as a kitten when Rosie was 10. Rosie took to Miranda like she was her own baby, nurtured her, slept next to her and so forth. As Rosie aged, she started going blind. Miranda followed her around to make sure she never bumped her head on anything-if Rosie was about to bump, Miranda jumped right in front of her before she could. When Rosie went into her final illness, Miranda walked around her in circles until I took Rosie to the vet, where she died.

Miranda loves Katie, too, who is now 8. When I go somewhere with Katie overnight, Miranda greets her on her return with a kiss to the nose. When Katie had a problem with her eye, Miranda licked it every day until it was better.

Unfortunately, Miranda is really pissed off at me for putting a flea collar on her, and has been scratching my head during the night, while I'm sleeping. She's wearing that collar until I see frost on the windows!

[renate]

18. a friend of mine had this amazing dog

There are all kinds of stories about him, but I remember this because it's such a sweet combination of stubborn and loving. My friend's grandmother, who was a little unsteady on her legs, lived with him and his family. One day she was upstairs and wanted to go down but didn't ask anybody for help this time, so she went to the head of the stairs--and the dog (a big dog) lay down in front of her so she couldn't get past him without getting somebody to help her.

I thought it was neat that he could sense that there would be a problem if she tried going alone--we hear all the time about dogs protecting little children, but he just refused to budge no matter what she said even though she was an adult, because he knew it was a mistake. Bless his heart.

I have no doubt whatsoever that dogs have emotions--it's a given, to me. It's their intuition that amazes me.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

22. Thanks, that's a beautiful story. I have a dog like that...

Actually have had 2. The first was a Queensland Heeler who was my then-boyfriend's dog; we bonded immediately. Long story, but things were rough for awhile with the boyfriend (who is now by longtime husband) and that dog saw me through some very difficult times; she was always there for me, always knew when I was upset and came right to me. Smartest dog I ever met. But she also developed a disorder later in life where she had seizures, and it made her a little crazy, snapping at people and being unpredictable. She died at home after a long life.

Then along came the new dog, a mix of Border Collie and Cattle Dog/Heeler. I believe he shares part of the soul of the first dog. It took me awhile to bond with him, my heart was so broken by the previous loss. But he has won me over and become my best friend; he has incredibly expressive eyes and face. People say he has human expressions all the time. He's the most affectionate and loving dog I have ever met.

[npincus]

23. Cats are devoted, loyal and demonstrative

Our cat saved my family (when I was a kid) by meowing loudly, continuously, during the night in front of our stove, which was leaking gas. That cat and other cats since, would bite (attack) the person who was "hitting" me: it's a game we used to play. My Dad would pretend to hit me, I'd cry out, and the cat would run over and start biting my Dad. I did the same thing with my husband and another cat- he would pretend to beat me and the cat would attack. Unfortunately, he usually attacked the wrong person (me, the victim)... that cat wasn't the brightest bulb!

Cats come to the rescue to protect and defend their owners. My cat sleeps on me (my chest) every night, and follows me around the house.

Thanks for sharing your stories.

[never_get_over_it]

9. Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[TahitiNut]

16. Yep. If dogs aren't there, then it's not Heaven.

Of this, I have no doubt.

[wicket]

5. Both pets died???

Goddammit :( :cry:

[Beelzebud]

7. They don't do it for loyalty.

They do it for LOVE.

[niyad]

10. how sad, and yet, what a beautiful story of love and devotion.

Lady of the Beasts, hold these special beings close to you, and ease the sorrow of those they left behind.

[NoSheep]

12. That is so very sad. The animals are so innocent.

[Mend]

13. this is why we won't leave our animals during a hurricane

It is a mutual contract to love and care for each other. What a terrific dog.

[earth mom]

14. Pets are truly our best friends.

:cry:

[Hav]

17. .

Such a great and sad story.

[truebrit71]

19. What a tragedy....but what a good dog!!!

My goodness....This story makes me want to cry....What a good dog....

[NashVegas]

21. Yeah. Too Bad CNN Blamed the Cat, Though

..

[ProgressiveEconomist]

20. I KNEW it was a Lab. Most of them are pretty smart, in my experience.

A Wisconsin paper has a few more details than the CNN story:

From http://www.sheboygan-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061016/SHE0101/61016026/1973 :

"Posted October 16, 2006

Dog saves woman from house fire; Dies after going back for cat that started blaze

By Troy Laack; Sheboygan Press staff

Jamie Hanson, who lost her leg in a traffic crash three years ago, tearfully described how her dog, Jesse, pulled her from a fire at her Town of Rhine home Sunday and brought her the phone so she could call for help. ...

Jesse, a 13-year-old golden Labrador retriever and German shepherd mix, and the cat, Tigger, died in the fire, Hanson said. The house, valued at $110,000, was destroyed, said owner Craig Hubbell, Hanson�s fiance. The fire started about 10:30 p.m. at the 100-year-old schoolhouse remodeled into a home ...

When rescuers arrived, the house was fully engulfed in flames, according to a press release from the Sheboygan County Sheriff�s Department. Hanson was in the doorway and was assisted to safety by Deputy Brad Abel. She suffered third-degree burns to her arm and was taken to the hospital. She is expected to leave the hospital today."

[Hidden Stillness]

24. A Very Haunting Story

I read this story as one of those caption headlines they have at the bottom of the screen, on CNN Headline "News." It told how the cat had accidentally started the fire, the dog saved the woman by bringing her the phone, and that the woman had third-degree burns, I think it was, on her arm and leg. It seemed like a tragedy with a nice ending for all, when suddenly they gave the punch-to-the-gut final sentence, "Both pets died in the fire." I couldn't get over that for several hours; I was shocked and haunted by it.

I'm glad this was posted here, so that now we know how they both died. I thought the firefighters just "didn't bother" to get the animals out, when really they were her family, and the dog was the life-saver of them all. Now at least, we know--the dog went back in! I love these wonderful dogs; they are our equals, and sometimes, they are better than we are.