A 999 COLLIE

Quick-thinking dog saves his sleeping owner before fire rips through house

- MICHAEL DALY

A PENSIONER yesterday told how his dog saved his life as a blaze gutted their home. 

Des Hannon was fast asleep when the fire broke out in the kitchen of his farmhouse on St Patrick’s night.

But super-smart collie Riley tugged at his trouser leg until he was roused and able to make his escape.

Des, 68, from Gurteen, Co Sligo, said he had just finished feeding the cattle and had pulled up a chair by the range to watch his favourite show Last of the Summer Wine.

But he dozed off and didn’t notice the fire take hold above the range.

Des said: “I was sound asleep and I felt something tugging at the leg of my trousers, tearing at it.

“It was Riley. He was barking, going mad with the barking, and trying to get me to wake up. He was determined to wake me and actually tore the bottom of my jeans.

“He kept pulling at the trouser leg and fair play to him, he woke me up. When I woke up I couldn’t believe what I saw, there was smoke and flames coming out from the range and above it.

“I went for the door and opened it, but I may as well have poured a five-gallon drum of petrol on the fire by doing that.

“The draught from opening the door fed the fire and the place was full of flames and smoke almost immediately.”

Des was shocked by how quickly the fire grew in its intensity.

He said: “It was almost instant from that moment I opened the door, it was frightening and it frightened Riley. He went in behind the couch and with the smoke and flames I wasn’t sure I would get him.”

But Des went back into the house and took the poor dog out to safety.