(La Porte, IN) - The life of a dog overcome by smoke inside a burning house in La Porte on Friday was saved by emergency responders performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  

 

Aaron England says he lost everything in the fire but what mattered to him the most was petting again his eight-year old dog, “Flash,” who he brought home for his daughter as a puppy.

 

“I could care less about the contents of my house.  He’s a family member.  As long as he’s o.k., I’m glad about that,” he said before overcome with emotion.

 

Nobody was home when the fire broke out before 9 a.m. at 604 Plain St. 

 

England said his 12-year old daughter was at school and he had left for work about 30 minutes before firefighters arrived.  Once notified about the fire by a neighbor, he returned home to find his American Pit Bull/Terrier mix outside on a leash seemingly acting as if nothing happened.

 

La Porte Fire Chief Andy Snyder said the dog was unresponsive when carried out of the small, singe story home by a firefighter.  He said the dog had a pulse but it was so difficult for him to breathe he was on the verge of going into respiratory and cardiac arrest.

 

The firefighter placed the dog on a picnic table in the front yard and began to repeatedly push on the dog’s chest while oxygen was administered by medics through a mask custom-made to fit over his mouth and face.

 

Eventually, Flash regained consciousness.

 

“The dog is up and walking around,” Snyder said.

 

Snyder said a small red-tailed boa constrictor snake belonging to his daughter was lifted from a large aquarium and carried outside to safety in a cardboard box.

 

The fire was contained to the kitchen and livingroom area but there was heavy smoke and water damage throughout the structure.

 

“It will not be inhabitable for a while until it gets repaired,” he said.

 

Snyder said investigators were at the scene beginning the process of trying to determine what caused the fire.  England also said the hardship from the fire comes not long after having his power knocked out for an extended period from the major August 11 storm.

 

"We made it through that.  Didn’t have power for a week.  This was not on my list of things that would happen for sure,” he said.