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Dog saves a disabled woman trapped in her burning home.
Early in 2024, 64-year-old Melissa Hoffman had a stroke, and could not walk.
When a fire suddenly engulfed her Citrus Heights, California home, she desperately reached for her wheelchair, but fell on the floor and was helpless.
After receiving a panic-stricken call from his daughter-in-law Ingrid, Melissa's husband David, rushed home and like Ingrid, found the flames, smoke and heat too much to overcome.
It appeared Melissa's life was over, until a surprise hero arose.
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To absorb the flames and insulate Melissa from the smoke, the Hoffman's 8-year-old pit bull mix, Maya had gently climbed on top of the fallen Melissa.
Firefighters soon arrived to fight the flames and save Melissa.
Said Capt. Ryan McMahon of the Sacrament Metropolitan Fire District to The Washington Post:
"One of our rescue guys caught a glimpse of some fur on the floor, and they found the dog on top of the woman. They grabbed the lady and the dog and got them to rescuers at the back window."
But it seemed too late for Maya: She was not breathing.
Then suddenly she gasped for air and quickly they gave her oxygen and resuscitated her.
Melissa had third-degree burns on 60% of her body. She has been recovering at a burn center and will need extensive skin grafts and long-term rehab therapy.
As for Maya, The Veterinary Specialty Hospital treated her for her severe burns at no cost after hearing about her heroism, and the family's financial losses. She is recovering at home.
Capt. Josh Leonard told The Post, "That dog absolutely saved [Melissa's] life and is a hero."
Subsequently, hero Maya reunited in a celebration with the firefighters, where she received plenty of head rubs and "good girl" compliments.
Editor's Note:
To learn more washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2024/09/20/california-house-fire-dog-hero/ and kcra.com/article/dog-saves-owner-citrus-heights-fire/62119453.
In The Next KazanToday: A kitten thrown out of a car window, adopted by the police officer sent to rescue her.
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