California Sheltie found unconscious in house fire reunites with firefighters who brought him back

A dog who was rescued from a burning house celebrated a happy reunion with the firefighters who saved him. 

Here's what to know

As ABC7 Los Angeles reported, Milo, a 6-year-old Sheltie, was rescued from a smoke-filled Pasadena house after being found unconscious inside. 

Thanks to the quick actions of firefighters, the pup is now back on his feet and has reunited with the firefighters who saved him.

Milo was still inside the house when crews arrived at the burning home. Firefighters from Pasadena, Arcadia, and Sierra Madre were responding after a 911 caller reported the fire and said a dog could be heard barking in the home, ABC7 Los Angeles reported. No people were home at the time.

Inside the home, Sierra Madre firefighter Jessica Johnson located the Sheltie in dense black smoke.

"I barely could see him," Johnson said, per ABC7. "I just kind of picked him up, brought him outside, and realized you could feel how limp he was." 

After about 5 minutes of crews administering oxygen and working to resuscitate him, Milo finally regained consciousness. Pasadena firefighters said he had been inside the house for at least eight minutes and that every moment counted when it came to saving his life. 

According to his family, Milo is back to his usual running and playing. Though he still has a slight cough, his veterinarian expects him to be OK.

More background

When a fire breaks out, animals can hide, become disoriented by smoke, or lose consciousness before rescuers are able to find them.

At the reunion, Milo's owner, Leticia, thanked the first responders for acting so quickly.

"Acting as quickly as they did, risking their lives for somebody else, and trying for it to be the best outcome as possible," Leticia said, as quoted by ABC7. "I'm forever, forever grateful. They're truly heroes."

Pasadena Fire Department officials urged pet owners to post a notice near the front door listing how many pets are inside the home. That way, rescuers can be aware of the pets' presence even if no humans are home at the time. 

Where can I learn more?

Milo's rescue is one of many cases in which firefighters and other responders have pulled pets from burning homes and wildfire zones. 

• In a basement bedroom fire, firefighters gave a small dog oxygen after pulling it outside.

• In Holladay, Utah, crews rescued a dog from a basement and reunited it with its owner.

• In Los Angeles fire zones, rescuer Jessica Davis kept entering neighborhoods to save animals.

• In Cyprus, veterinary teams rescued more than 180 pets from devastating wildfires.

• On a wildfire-hit reservation, residents found animals left to die after flames tore through downtown.

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