Dog Saves Cat, Owner From House Fire Near Carnation

CARNATION, WA - It appears the age-old dog-cat rivalry is over, or at least on hold for now.

Just before 2 p.m. Thursday, a dog woke its owner by barking as a smoke from a fire filled the man's Carnation home. The man and the dog fled the house and called 911.

Eastside Fire and Rescue was first on the scene, later joined by crews from Redmond, Snoqualmie, Duvall, and Fall City. The fire was in the basement, and firefighters were luckily able to put it out quickly.

But that's when the homeowner told them his cat never made it out.

The firefighters entered the home to search for the feline, finding it unconscious. Eastside fire was equipped with a special oxygen system for pets. They put the tiny mask on the black-and-white cat's face, and by the time he arrived at Alpine Animal Hospital in Issaquah, he was alert and breathing.

The cat is recovery at the vet, and the Eastside Firefighters Benevolent Fund has stepped up to foot the bill.

Had it not been for that smoke-detecting dog's barks, the cat - and the owner - might not have had a chance.