Firefighter saves pit bulls

Firefighters do a lot more than just stopping buildings from burning down. They are trained to save lives, and there are plenty of stories of heroic rescues of people and their pets. But one veteran Chicago firefighter went well beyond the call of duty when she resuscitated two pit bull terriers using oxygen and CPR after they were rescued from the rear porch of a burning block of flats.

Tammy Rodriguez was one of the firefighters in a team that was sent out to a fire in Bucktown, Illinois. She is a trained paramedic who owns three dogs of her own, and it was her compassion and sharp thinking that averted the deaths of adult pit bill Howdy and puppy Hossa.

Howdy was carried outside to Ms Rodriguez by a colleague and was found to be suffering cardiac arrest. The other dog, Hossa, had suffered life-threatening injuries. Initially, Ms Rodriguez administered oxygen to Howdy using a mask, and then started performing CPR. At first, there was no reaction, but eventually the dog started breathing, opened her eyes, and got up.

After the incident, a press conference took place, and Howdy made an appearance. Hossa, meanwhile, was sent to a veterinary practice to recover. When the fire began, the dogs' owner was at work. The reason for the blaze, in which no humans were hurt, is currently being investigated.

In a world where the news is saturated with sadness, suffering and fear, we should celebrate stories like this as a reminder of the most endearing aspects of the human spirit. Tammy Rodriguez has claimed that she doesn't regard herself as a hero, but what she did should be acknowledged. Firefighters definitely don't get paid enough for their often courageous feats, so the least we can do is recognise their contribution in other ways.


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