Fire alarms. The smell of smoke. The crackle of flames. In those moments, people run toward safety or call for help. Sometimes help comes faster than expected.
When officers Michael Ely and Jacob Leonard got to a house fire in Aurora, Illinois, they were ready for smoke and shouting. What they did not expect was how calm one creature could be.
Inside the home was Oakley, a dog. He was trapped behind a gate. Smoke filled the air. Nothing moved but him.
Oakley did not wait for Illinois rescuers. He led the officers to his kitchen. What he did next helped save his life.
Oakley Is Such A Good Boy
When Illinois officers were alerted to a fire at a home in Aurora, they rushed to the scene to help. Officers Michael Ely and Jacob Leonard were the first ones there.
They broke through the front door, but they did not expect what was about to happen next. They were told to look for a dog, so they did.
The two officers split up in their search, and they actually found him. Oakley would have escaped at the first sign of trouble, but a gate in the doorway prevented him from escaping.
Officer Ely tried to get the dog out of the house by reaching for his collar, but this good boy had another idea. He led the officer into another room to pick up his leash.
Yes, you read that right. He went for his leash. The Illinois officer was surprised by how well-behaved this dog was.
Shortly after they led him out, Oakley was reunited with his family, and nobody was hurt in the incident.
The officers later discovered that there were no signs of foul play and that the fire likely started in an attic.
Many Reactions On Facebook
When everything was said and done, The Aurora Police Department posted a video of the entire event on their facebook page to an overwhelming response.
One person commented: “Smart dog. Smart police. Happy ending to what could have been a bigger tragedy than it was!”
Yeah, the police officers were very professional and they handled the entire situation well. Thanks to them, this sweet pup was safely with his family again.
Another person said: “Awww Oakley did so good in a very scary and painful situation. So did APD.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that Oakley was scared, but I think the presence of police officers helped soothe him a bit, which is why he felt confident enough to go for his leash.
Lastly, somebody commented: “This is the best news I’ve seen in a while! Great dog and great police! I love how the dog went to his leash!”
Sometimes we all need news like this to cheer us up or remind us that kindness still exists out there in the world, even if we are constantly flooded with negativity online.
Stories like this are simple and straight to the point, but they illustrate how important it is to stay calm in dangerous situations like this and do your best to help where you can.