SOFT NEWS Service Dog saves blind owner from fire by "dialing" 911

[Melodi]

This is a wonderful feel good story, and it also is why I was so horrified at the story of the police officer who shot a service dog for no good reason. These dogs are often highly trained and cost thousands of dollars to do so - this lovely lab has actually saved his owner twice, once when she fell and now during the fire. It doesn't say in the article but I've seen other places such dogs are trained to push a button or key down if something is wrong with the owner.


Service Dog Saves Blind Owner's Life During House Fire
By David Chang

Red Paw Relief
Updated 2 hours ago

A service dog is being hailed a hero after she jumped into action and saved her blind owner’s life by alerting authorities to a house fire in Philadelphia Thursday morning.

The fire started inside a home on the 4300 block of Oakmont Street in the city’s Holmesburg section. Fire officials say the homeowner, a woman in her 60’s who is blind, was inside at the time. The woman’s service dog Yolanda immediately dialed 911 on a specialized phone.

Firefighters responded to the scene and controlled the blaze. The woman was taken to Nazareth Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.

It wasn’t the first time Yolanda saved her owner’s life. Jen Leary, the founder of the Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, told NBC10 Yolanda also called 911 last year when her owner fell down inside her home and lost consciousness.

Yolanda and her owner were both displaced by the blaze and are being assisted by the Red Paw and the Red Cross.
Published at 8:37 PM EDT on Aug 6, 2015

Read more: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...hiladelphia-Fire-320985531.html#ixzz3i99JTzM0
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[Melodi]

sorry, picture just won't post but is a great picture!

 

[mzkitty]

sorry, picture just won't post but is a great picture!

Let me try:

 

[Melodi]

Thanks! Usually I can post them, but I thought it might be protected in some way; we have some on-line papers that do that, looks like a great dog!

 

[packyderms_wife]

These dogs are often highly trained and cost thousands of dollars to do so

Try tens of thousands of dollars, there's a organization here in central Iowa that gets funding and training for specially bred pups for vets that need them, on average the cost is right around 22K depending on what the pup is being trained to do.

 

[2ndAmendican]

Good story. All we can do is try to be worthy of our respective dog's affection. I've always been a Lab guy. Grew up with them as a child, and continued as an adult. So loyal, loving, and intelligent.

 

[Richard]

There are dogs that have accidentally phoned 911, doesn't say whether in this case it was trained to do so, that would be very encouraging if they can be trained to dial 911 or press a button in an emergency situation. Would like to know what actually happened and whether dogs can be trained to dial 911 and how the dog is trained to recognise the circumstances in which it should do so.

 

[packyderms_wife]

There are dogs that have accidentally phoned 911, doesn't say whether in this case it was trained to do so, that would be very encouraging if they can be trained to dial 911 or press a button in an emergency situation. Would like to know what actually happened and whether dogs can be trained to dial 911 and how the dog is trained to recognise the circumstances in which it should do so.

Reread the article, this dog was trained to hit a button on a special device that calls 911.