Dog and disabled woman were alone when house caught fire — the canine’s selfless response saved her life
Dogs are known to be possessive and protective of their pet parents and have a love that’s unconditional and endless. When David Hoffman heard that his house in Citrus Heights, California, was on fire and that his disabled wife, Melissa and his pets were trapped, he was terrified, per The Washington Post. However, their 8-year-old dog, Maya, did the unexpected to save the woman. The owners have a newfound respect for their canine and are ever grateful for her selfless gesture of putting Melissa’s life before her own. It’s not just her instinct but her selfless love that saved Melissa’s life at the time.
The woman had suffered a stroke earlier and was unable to walk. David was running errands when he learned of the fire and feared the worst. With much chaos running through his mind, he tried his best to help. The man kept shouting to locate Melissa and to assure her that help was on the way. Meanwhile, the woman was trying to grab her wheelchair and fell to the ground. That’s when Maya took over. Captain Ryan McMahon of the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, recalled, “One of our rescue guys caught a glimpse of some fur on the floor and they found the dog on top of the woman.”
The pitbull mix bravely hovered over Melissa and covered her with her own body to protect her from the heat and the flames, per ABC 10. The duo was eventually taken out of the flaming house. The rescuers couldn’t help but praise the canine’s courage and intelligence. It wasn’t just the fact that she covered her owner, but the way she did it too. “The dog was unconscious on her chest, protecting her airway and ended up taking the brunt of the heat. That dog is a hero,” Fire Captain Josh Leonard remarked. The rescuers also noted that it was Maya’s act that bought them time to get in and get the woman out.
Captain Mark Nunez, spokesman for the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District, mentioned that he had seen canines come forward in such situations, putting their owners’ lives before their own. “There’s usually an instinctual bond that the dog has with their owner, and they feel the need to protect them,” Nunez said. Melissa suffered third-degree burns and was shifted to the hospital immediately. The family set up a GoFundMe to help with treatments and financial aid for the Hoffmans. The rescuers feared that Maya wouldn’t survive the brutal injuries. Leonard noted, “We all thought the dog didn’t make it. She wasn’t moving and didn’t appear to be breathing.”
To their surprise, despite taking the brunt of the heat, they saw the canine trying to breathe. “We quickly got a mask on the dog to give her some oxygen and we revived her,” Leonard said. Maya was later taken to the vet and treated. David was bereaved to have lost a kitten and much of their home in the fire, but was grateful for Maya's selfless act. “She’s (Melissa) extremely close to Maya. That dog has been a hero since we got her as a puppy. She’s always been extremely devoted.” Angela, David's daughter, shared a video of Maya recovering well at home.
Unfortunately, in an update around mid January, the familly announced the passing of Melissa. It read, "Melissa fought a really tough battle, discharging from the ICU burn unit into a local hospital/rehab facility and then eventually back to her husband David. Due to complications of the stroke and the house fire, she had numerous stints back in the hospital for wound care, pneumonia and then urinary issues. Melissa was admitted into the hospital earlier in the week and that is where she took her final breaths." The family thanked people for their support and generosity, which helped Melissa get more time with her loved ones. "Although the last 11 months have been unfair, unbelievable, and an absolute nightmare, we have still had times of hope and happiness," they said.