By Bob Fowler
The Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee)
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — A beloved pet is being credited with likely saving his master’s life in a fire Wednesday night that destroyed an apartment.
And Oak Ridge firefighters, who rescued the near lifeless dog from the burning dwelling and then worked frantically to revive him, are credited with saving the animal’s life.
The dog’s name: Lucky.
Firefighters strapped an oxygen mask to the blond cocker spaniel and administered a high-flow dose of oxygen, Oak Ridge Deputy Fire Chief Darryl Kerley said.
“When I got there, a couple of firemen said, ‘He’s not going to make it,’” said Tom Scott, the department’s photographer.
“Firefighters loved on it
and rubbed on it, and fi nally, it came around,” Kerley said of Lucky.
Owner Ernest Spalding Sr. tried to re-enter his burning West Vanderbilt Road apartment to save his dog, but the dwelling was fully involved, and a neighbor, Duane Schmitt, physically restrained him.
“He probably saved his (Spalding’s) life,” Kerley said.
Fire Department Capt. Marty Griffith found the lifeless dog in a back bedroom and brought it out.
Although Spalding suffered burns and smoke inhalation in the fire, he refused to get in a waiting ambulance until he learned Lucky’s fate.
“The dog was trying to breathe when he was brought out,” Stafford said. He said it took 10 minutes of oxygen to get Lucky breathing normally.
“Even then, he would stick his head back in the mask and get some more oxygen,” Stafford said.
It was only after Spalding was assured his dog was safe that he accepted an ambulance ride to Methodist Medical Center, where he was treated and later released.
Lucky on Thursday morning was still coughing from his ordeal and was taken to an Oak Ridge veterinarian’s clinic for treatment of smoke inhalation, Kerley said.
Kerley sa id a storm Wednesday knocked out power to Spalding’sapartment.
Spalding reportedly lit a candle, placed it on a living room table and then reclined on a couch, Kerley said.
Spalding was awakened about 9 p.m. to find the table ablaze, the assistant chief said. “There’s a real good chance that dog woke him up,” Kerley said.
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