Dog hailed a hero after calling 911 and saving blind owner from house fire

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 on Thursday morning.



The fire started inside a home 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 specialised 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, said 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 Red Paw Emergency Relief Team and the American Red Cross.

With news video.