San Jose firefighters revive family's 2 dogs after rescue from house fire
Photo: KTVU
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KTVU) - San Jose firefighters resuscitated two dogs Thursday afternoon after they were rescued from a burning home. Fire officials say the dogs were near death and they are crediting special pet rescue training for the dogs’s survival.
Nine-year-old bichons Rickey and Lizzie are said to be safe and out of harm’s way, lucky to be alive after they nearly died in the fire.
Heavy black smoke and flames could be seen coming from the garage of the three-store house. Eric Sayaan and four other family members were inside at the time. They made it out safe, but their dogs were trapped on the second floor.
“As I’m right by the front door, I’m screaming their names Rickey and Lizzie. I said come downstairs and there's no response,” said Sayaan.
He feared the worst until firefighters showed up. San Jose Firefighter Paramedic Mike Harkins helped resuscitate the dogs.
“Normally when you see a dog they will walk up to you and bark and wag their tail,” said Harkins. “These dogs were lying in our arms lifelessly just trying to breathe."
He said they were unresponsive and had trouble breathing after inhaling smoke. The normally white poodle-terrier mixes were gray from the fire.
“When they got resuscitated, I was shocked,” said Sayaan.
The dogs were brought to life thanks to pet rescue training. The San Jose Fire Department said they practice pumping oxygen to a dog mannequin and use special equipment like a doggie resuscitator with masks specifically for pets.
“When the dogs started looking around it was definitely rewarding,” said Harkins.
Sayaan said his family is grateful for the firefighter’s quick actions and thankful his dogs were saved.
“If it wasn't for their response time, the dogs would probably be gone,” said Sayaan.
“I understood how important dogs are in people's lives,” said Harkins. “I wanted to be sure this family, even though they lost many belongings in this fire, they didn't lose a family member such as their dog.”