Courageous Dog Dies Saving Owners From Fire

March 7, 2007
Shawn McGrath
The Herald Bulletin; Anderson, IN

In something seemingly pulled from a Hollywood script, a collie named Lassie is being credited with saving her owners’ lives — but at the cost of her own — after fire swept through an Anderson home Wednesday morning.

Firefighters were called to home of Robert E. and Elsie M. Whitson at 1525 Miller Ave., shortly after 7:30 a.m., according Larry Towne, Anderson Fire Department battalion chief. Thick smoke was rolling from the home when firefighters arrived, he said.

Photo: A early morning fire Wednesday distroyed this home at 1525 Miller Ave in Anderson. Engine 7 captain Mike Levi sprays down hot spots Wednesday afternoon after being called back out to the scene on a rekindle. (John P. Cleary / The Herald Bulletin)

The Whitsons’ daughter, Judi Thompson, Anderson, said her parents were asleep in the bedroom, in the rear of the home, when the fire erupted.

Lassie, who normally slept at the foot of the Whitsons’ bed on the floor, licked 80-year-old Elsie’s hand in an apparent attempt to rouse her, Thompson said. The 3-year-old collie then moved to the other side of the bed and started nibbling on 81-year-old Robert’s hand. He got up, thinking Lassie needed to go outside, and that’s when he discovered the fire, Thompson said.

Robert then woke his wife, and the two went outside, thinking Lassie had already made it out. When Robert realized the dog, which they’d owned since she was a puppy, didn’t make it out, he went back in. But he couldn’t save Lassie.

“The dog saved their life,” Thompson said. “Even the firemen said that. Isn’t that amazing? It gives me goose bumps.”

The firefighters were on the scene until about 12:30 p.m.

Towne said the fire was still under investigation, but likely was caused by a space heater in a family room in the home’s front.

Robert, who suffered first-degree burns to his shoulders, back and part of his head, was taken to a city hospital. Elsie suffered chest pains at the scene and was also taken to a hospital. Both were released a few hours later, Towne said.

“(The fire) totally destroyed the place,” he said.

Thompson said her parents, retired Anderson Community Schools bus drivers, didn’t have insurance. They’ll be staying with her for now, she said. The couple declined to comment.

Firefighters were able to salvage some of Elsie’s jewelry, including her wedding rings. The couple’s 59th wedding anniversary will be in June, Thompson said.

“They’ll be fine,” she said of her parents. “We’ll get through it.”

No firefighters were injured fighting the blaze. But they were later briefly called back to the residence after the fire rekindled, Towne said. Smoke from the original blaze could be seen for miles.

“Everybody in town could have seen it,” he said. “We’re pretty sure it was a space heater.”

But Towne, too, credited Lassie with saving the couple.

“If hadn’t have been for (her), ...” he said, referring to Lassie.

Towne said firefighters found Lassie’s remains underneath some collapsed roofing. Naomia L. Gooding, another daughter of the couple, said Lassie was discovered at the foot of the couple’s bed, where she normally slept. Lassie likely died of smoke inhalation, Gooding said.

“They thought Lassie was out, but she wasn’t,” she said. “They loved this dog, and she was a wonderful dog.”

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