Bodycam footage captured the moment a police officer broke down a door to check through a house that was burning down, only to be met by a ‘good’ Staffordshire bull terrier
A heroic dog managed to help “rescue” himself during a house fire by making an unexpected gesture to a police officer. The pooch was home alone when a blaze broke out, filling the property with smoke and alerting emergency services. Bodycam footage captured the dramatic scene as a police officer arrived to investigate. The video kicks off with the front door being booted open by the officer who then bellows: “Hello, police, anybody in here?” before venturing inside.
A persistent bleeping from a fire alarm or smoke detector can be heard throughout the clip. Once inside the smoke-filled home, the officer quickly locates the dog and calls out: “Hey buddy, come here”. The dog – a blue Staffordshire bull terrier – initially bolts and heads deeper into the property.
The officer follows the dog in an attempt to guide him to safety and it’s at this point the animal’s intentions become clear – he was taking the officer to his lead.
The lead was hanging up on a hook near the back door. The officer clips the lead onto the dog’s collar and they make their way back outside together.
The officer can then be heard coughing from the smoke inhalation. The incident unfolded in Aurora, Illinois in the US, and has since been widely shared across social media.
ABC News posted the bodycam footage on TikTok and captioned it: “A dog helped assist in its own rescue after an Illinois family’s home caught fire last week.
“Bodycam footage shows police entering a smoke-filled home to save the family pet – with the dog leading the officer to its leash before being led out the door.
“No one was inside the home at the time of the fire besides the dog, according to police.”
In the comments section, people were keen to share their thoughts. One person joked: “He wasn’t about to break leash laws in front of an officer!”
Another said: “That baby is so scared but still was 100% good dog,” while a third shared: “I love that the officer actually listened to the dog.”
A fourth commented: “HE’S A GOOD BOY HE KNOWS HE CAN’T GO OUTSIDE WITHOUT HIS LEASH I’M SOBBING.”
Someone else said: “As soon as he had that leash he was like ‘We gotta go man! The house is on fire!'”
Another said: “So innocent man. You cannot beat a STAFFY… one of the best dog breeds you can get.”
Staffordshire bull terriers are known for their friendly, loyal natures. According to PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), they are “lively and energetic dogs” who “love company and cuddles from their owner (once they’ve tired themselves out).”
The organisation states: “They love to be at the centre of anything going on in the home.
“Staffies are stocky and solid dogs with seemingly boundless energy, which makes them the perfect pet for active households. They do best when there is someone around the home all the time to keep them company – otherwise you might find your furniture pays the price!”
