Cat Saves Family From Fire

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

02 Mar 2007 03:57 PM

Animal heroes are all around us. The news from Australia brings us the story of Timmy the cat who saved his family from a house fire.

In the middle of the night, a forgotten cigarette set a mattress on fire in a family home in Cairns, a town in northern Australia. Timmy woke his owners by pawing and clawing at their faces; the family of four was able to escape unharmed.

Fire service officials reported that the home had only minor damage thanks to Timmy's quick action -- and that Timmy was the best smoke alarm system the family could have hoped for. Faster than the speed of a fire alarm... more powerful than the smell of smoke... it's Timmy the tabby hero!

I'm always moved by stories of animal heroics. Not only do they provide us with unconditional love and faithful companionship, but they can really step up to the plate in unexpected circumstances. Like the German shepherd in Philly who followed a curious toddler onto the roof and kept him from falling until neighbors could climb out to the rescue. Or the black lab who saved a man from drowning in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

My dog Miko saved me once -- it wasn't a flashy, dramatic rescue, and it didn't make any headlines, but he saved me. We were driving back to Vermont after a weekend away, and the hour was late because I'd stalled. I was getting sleepy, and there was hardly anybody else on the road. I nodded off at the wheel and probably would have gone off the highway if Miko hadn't nudged my shoulder hard enough to wake me. I firmly believe that Miko saved my life that night.

But you don't have to save a life to be a hero. Every time Lally makes me laugh when I'm having a bad day, or Moose comes for a cuddle when I'm feeling lonely... those dogs are my heroes. In fact... I'm going to go hug my two fuzzy heroes right now!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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