Dog credited with saving owner from wildfire in California
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2003 4:42 pm
(Colton, California-AP) -- O-K, so Gardner Credle's black Labrador had a few problems learning how to sit or roll over.
Not unusual for a 12-year-old dog.
But when it came to saving Credle's life, ole Smokey was a quick study.
Credle didn't want to leave his trailer in Riverside County, California, even though a wildfire was getting awfully close.
But his dog, Smokey, wouldn't take no for an answer. He put his head on Credle's lap, gazed into his eyes and then tried to jump into the back of Credle's pickup truck.
Credle says Smokey looked at him as if to say, "Pappy, it's time to go."
Minutes later, Credle's trailer went up in flames.
Credle -- who has third-degree burns -- says if he hadn't left when Smokey urged to him go, he would've been a goner.
Not unusual for a 12-year-old dog.
But when it came to saving Credle's life, ole Smokey was a quick study.
Credle didn't want to leave his trailer in Riverside County, California, even though a wildfire was getting awfully close.
But his dog, Smokey, wouldn't take no for an answer. He put his head on Credle's lap, gazed into his eyes and then tried to jump into the back of Credle's pickup truck.
Credle says Smokey looked at him as if to say, "Pappy, it's time to go."
Minutes later, Credle's trailer went up in flames.
Credle -- who has third-degree burns -- says if he hadn't left when Smokey urged to him go, he would've been a goner.
