A California woman is lucky to be alive after officials believe her dedicated dog helped protect her during a house fire.
Firefighters found Maya, an 8-year-old Pitbull mix, unconscious and lying on top of her disabled owner as a fire ravaged their house in the suburban Sacramento city of Citrus Heights last month, according to Nicole Orlando, director of the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in nearby Roseville.
The entire house was engulfed in thick smoke and flames with no escape route, Orlando told USA TODAY this week.
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Firefighters, who broke a window to reach Maya and her owner, used an oxygen mask on the dog for 15 minutes to revive her, after which she was rushed to the vet, Orlando said, adding that all her treatment was free.
Maya remained at the hospital for two days as she was treated for smoke inhalation. She’s still being treated for burn marks, including one on her tongue.
“(She’s) a very, happy sweet dog,” Orlando said. The Veterinary Specialty Hospital said in a Facebook on Tuesday that Maya “hasn’t lost her spirit.”