Man Saves Elderly Woman From Burning House — His Dog Sniffs Out Another Life

When a Good Samaritan jumps into action to save a stranger from a fire, it’s heroic. But when a dog joins in and helps save another life? That’s something extraordinary.

Last Friday morning, Keith Taylor, his wife Melanie, and their dog Ace were on a routine drive in Cleveland when they noticed a glow coming from a house window.

“The window was glowing with fire,” Taylor recalled. “We had to make sure everyone was out.”

Without hesitation, he parked the car, honked the horn, and ran toward the house, yelling, “FIRE!” On the porch, he saw an elderly woman step outside but then she went back inside the burning home.

Taylor didn’t think twice. He climbed the steps, pushed through the security door, and navigated the smoke to find the woman. He picked her up and carried her out just as the front window exploded, sending shards of glass flying and flames licking the porch roof. He rushed her to the safety of his vehicle.

Meanwhile, Ace, Keith and Melanie’s large and energetic pitbull mix, was buzzing with excitement from the arriving fire crews and commotion. Keith took him for a short walk while firefighters got the blaze under control. Cleveland Fire shared what happened next:

“After the fire was brought under control, he tied Ace to a fence post near the driveway. Ace began pulling on the leash, sniffing and straining toward a boarded up basement window. Taylor told the Battalion Chief on scene that Ace was indicating toward the window. “He smells something down there.”

Firefighters returned down to the basement and discovered a small brown dog, frightened but unharmed by the smoke and heat, hiding behind a closed door!

“It’s God’s work,” said Taylor afterward. “Just glad I was in the right place at the right time.”

Cleveland Fire says the fire appears to have been started by a space heater. They were thankful for the pair’s quick-thinking help and wrote of the two heroes, “Cleveland Fire tips our helmet to the bravery and tenacity of Richard Keith Taylor and Ace. Great job! Thank you.”