Cat Starts House Fire, Dog Saves Owner

[Markel]

This should settle forever the debate on the evilness of cats and the value of dogs. Link (http://apnews.myway.com//article/20061016/D8KPUHG00.html)

Cat Starts House Fire, Dog Saves Owner
RHINE, Wis. (AP) - After a disabled woman's cat started a house fire, her specially trained dog rescued her by bringing a phone to call for help. Jamie Hanson, 49, received third-degree burns on her arm in the fire that killed both of her pets, Sheboygan County Sheriff's officials said Monday.

The fire started Sunday night when Hanson's cat knocked a candle onto a chair. Hanson's dog then brought her a phone, allowing her to call for help.

Hanson, who lost a leg in a car accident, told the dispatcher she was disabled but would try to leave the house, Lt. Chad Broeren said. Firefighters found her standing in the doorway as flames engulfed the home, he said.

She was taken to Sheboygan Memorial Hospital. Her injuries are not life threatening, Broeren said.

[kgsilvas]

Hey, the cat was just trying to get her motivated! Sounds like she needed more exercise. :winkie:

Cats rule, dogs drool! This proves nothing Satchel!

[Dazzling]

The only cat I like is Felix The Cat........Scooby snacks for the dog for bringing the phone!!!

(Poor baby if he had lived that is)

[MikeD]

This should settle forever the debate on the evilness of cats and the value of dogs.

:stupid:

Heh, you got it. I don't mind cats, but they don't give dogs any competition...

[Houdini]

:stupid:

Heh, you got it. I don't mind cats, but they don't give dogs any competition...

Amen. You never see stories like this involving cats. They just don't have the ability to pick up phones, etc., and for the most part they just are, well, cats - not thriving on the attention and love of people.

I read a story a few years ago about a neurosurgery research team that removed the cortices of a few cats - effectively leaving only the parts of the brainstem and visual system in place so that the cat could keep breathing, etc. Interestingly, they found that brainless cats act a lot like regular cats, and the people that adopted them afterward never knew the difference (and weren't told.) :)

[bachviet]

Only evil has 9 lives. :P

[CornMonkey]

i saw this story on the news tonight... the dog dragged the woman to safety, then went back into the house to try and save the cat...but never made it out.

the cat probably deserved it, but that dog is a hero.

[ShawnLee]

Interestingly, they found that brainless cats act a lot like regular cats, and the people that adopted them afterward never knew the difference (and weren't told.) :)
Brainless cats? Isn't that a little bit on the redundant side?

[DarkFury]

i saw this story on the news tonight... the dog dragged the woman to safety, then went back into the house to try and save the cat...but never made it out.

the cat probably deserved it, but that dog is a hero.
Sounds like Canine wing politics and media at work there. :D

[Maarchk]

i saw this story on the news tonight... the dog dragged the woman to safety, then went back into the house to try and save the cat...but never made it out.

the cat probably deserved it, but that dog is a hero.

My guess is the cat knew he was going up the creek and wouldn't be taken alive... tragically, he wanted the dog to suffer along with him... Its very sad... another hero taken down by a cat. ;)

[ufcrusher]

Whats odd is I swear this happened before. It was a few years ago, but I seem to recall a very similar situation whereby the cat creates an issue and the dog saves the day. In that case no one died.


In all honesty, I have never known or seen a cat that would be "troubled" to help someone. I know cats that intentionally follow people around and trip them, but the word help is outside of a cats lexicon.

[Paniolo]

It's tragic to lose any beloved pet, but especially one of these valuable, highly trained, 'service/assistance/companion' dogs.:sad:

[Houdini]

It's tragic to lose any beloved pet, but especially one of these valuable, highly trained, 'service/assistance/companion' dogs.:sad:

Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever seen a service/assistance cat. ;)

H <---loves dogs, tolerates cats

[Prngr44]

Yeah it's a pretty sad story... the dog ran her her leg, ran her the phone so she could call 911, then tried to save the damn cat.

Who said it was a smart dog?? ;)