ROSEVILLE, Calif. — A dog and her owner were reunited Monday after she was injured in a Citrus Heights duplex fire.
David Hoffman's dog, Maya, was rescued by firefighters from the blaze, along with Hoffman's wife. Both his wife and Maya sustained burn injuries.
"She's not a dog, she's a family member," Hoffman said.
Looking at Maya Monday, it would be hard to tell she was trapped inside the burning duplex.
Hoffman says the flames traveled from the front of the home to the back bedroom where his disabled, bed-bound wife was. He couldn't get inside but says his wife somehow made it onto the floor and Maya jumped into action.
"There was so much smoke and heat back there. The dog laid on top of my wife while the fire was burning," he said.
Hoffman took a hose and sprayed down the window until fire crews arrived. They rescued his wife from the bedroom and rushed her to the hospital. Crews also got Maya out.
"When the fire department found my wife and the dog, the dog was unconscious, lying on top of my wife and they were able to get my wife and the dog out of the house, and they were able to do CPR on my dog and she was able to start breathing," Hoffman said.
He's says his wife needs more surgeries as she recovers from the burns, but adds she's at UC Davis Burn Center making progress.
"Maya definitely contributed to the successful outcome of her owner, Mrs. Hoffman," said Jason Vestal, Battalion Chief for Sacramento Metro Fire District.
Maya has received care for the past few weeks at Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Roseville, free of charge.
"She is a whole different dog today. When she came in, she was quite scared, she was sad, she didn't feel well, she was having difficulty breathing and now, she’s bright and alert, she's running around," said associate veterinarian Dr. Nicole McArthur.
Hoffman says he appreciates the vet's kindness and is grateful to firefighters for their quick action.
"They ran into my house with not even a second thought. They went right in there to get my wife and dog out of there. They're my heroes. I'm just so thankful to them that they were able to get my wife and dog out of there alive," Hoffman said.
The family's had Maya since she was a puppy and she is now 8-years-old.
"She's that loyal (of) a dog," Hoffman said. "Most dogs don't do that. If they see a fire, they'll run, they'll get out of the house. It just goes to show you how good a dog she is and how much we love her and how much she loves us."
The vet says Maya should heal from her burns in another month or so, but she is now back with her family.
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