DC Firefighters Rescue Pooch Caught in House Fire [VIDEO]

UPDATE: Unfortunately, despite efforts to save Cesare, D.C. Fire and EMS reported that he succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON, DC — A report of a fire in Wesley Heights in Northwest turned into an animal rescue operation after firefighters discovered a badly injured Italian sheepdog named Cesare fighting for his life.

The dog's owner tweeted late Monday that they're hopeful Cesare will survive after the ordeal, which started Monday afternoon at a two-story house in the 4500 block of Klingle Street NW with a fire on the first floor.

Although firefighters were able to quickly knock it down, they found Cesare barely alive and started to administer CPR. They successfully got the dog breathing again, and confirmed that no one else was in the home at the time of the fire so they could focus life-saving efforts on the dog, which you can watch on the video below:

Klingle St fire under control. We have got the rescued dog breathing and are providing additional care. No one else found during search. pic.twitter.com/DICYhvvaT3
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) January 16, 2017

Firefighters then rushed the injured pooch to a vehicle to transport to Friendship Heights Animal Hospital. One firefighters suffered a minor bite.

Peter Garrett tweeted his thanks to D.C. Fire and EMS later that evening, noting that he was hopeful Cesare would pull through "thanks to your heroic efforts today."

Thank you @dcfireems for saving our Cesare, we are hoping he'll pull through thanks to your heroic efforts today at our fire-stricken house pic.twitter.com/llLxr9oQ44
— Peter Garrett (@Garbob2) January 17, 2017

Image via D.C. Fire and EMS