A Nova Scotia family is crediting their dog with saving their lives after it alerted them to an early-morning fire that quickly gutted their home.
The golden retriever’s relentless barking awoke the parents and their two young daughters around 4 a.m. Sunday in Alder Point, N.S.
“He started barking because the smoke was coming and that’s what got them all up and got them safe,” said Joan Fraser, the homeowner’s mother, as she patted the dog’s head and choked back tears. “He’s our hero, he certainly is.”
The family had just enough time to escape the blaze, which eventually engulfed the home, believed to be one of the oldest houses in the oceanside community. The father and the eldest daughter had to leap from a second-floor window to flee the fire.
Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the morning, but the house was almost completely burned to its foundation by the fast-moving flames.
The cause of the blaze is currently unclear.
The family is now left with little more than the clothes on their backs.
“The young girls have nothing,” said Lois MacLennan, the homeowner’s sister. “Some of my family members just dropped off a pile of beautiful clothes there, to help out a little bit.”
The family, who have yet to be identified, have since moved in with relatives. The Red Cross says the family has insurance to cover some of the immediate needs.
As for the golden retriever, he’s now being considered a hero.
“You often hear a tale of a dog saving somebody’s life. But you don’t put any heed into it, but now we have one right here that saves four people’s lives,” said Fraser.
With a report from CTV Atlantic
