Chase, a 12-pound miniature goldendoodle, proved that even the smallest dogs can be lifesavers.
According to WABC7, a fire broke out inside a Long Beach, New York, home in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 9 — while the entire family slept. Only Chase was awake to sense the danger.
As soon as the flames began to spread, Chase started barking loudly, jolting his family out of their sleep.
“The residents were woken by the dog barking, and then looked out and saw the fire,” Rick DiGiacomo of the Long Beach Fire Department told the outlet.
Thanks to Chase’s quick instincts and persistent barking, everyone in the home — including the brave 2-year-old dog — escaped without injury. One person had to retreat to the roof to stay safe from the flames.
Multiple fire departments responded, including the City of Long Beach New York Fire Department and the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department. The latter shared that the fire was brought under control within 40 minutes and impacted the first floor, second floor, and basement.
“The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office, the Nassau County Police Arson Bomb Squad (@nassaucountypd), and the Long Beach Police Department,” the department added.
In the aftermath, Chase is being celebrated as a hero whose quick thinking likely saved lives.
DiGiacomo noted that pets often play a critical role in alerting families during emergencies and reminded all households to regularly test their smoke detectors to ensure they’re functioning properly.
Chase’s story follows other recent accounts of heroic dogs, including Freyja, a German Shepherd who located a missing 2-year-old in the woods during dangerously cold weather.
