DENVER – A family had been sleeping in their Morrison home when their dog, Cuddles, alerted them to a fire that had started inside. The family was able to escape unharmed, but FOX31 has learned that the Chihuahua was discovered dead inside the wrecked home several days later.
On Wednesday morning, West Metro Fire Rescue responded to a house fire that they believed began on the back porch and spread to the interior. They reported that it burnt through the family room floor and caused considerable damage to the first and second stories. Even a neighbor’s house was exposed to heat.
The family escaped the fire, but Cuddles was nowhere to be found in the aftermath.
Crews stated they searched the house many times but were unable to discover Cuddles. Meanwhile, neighbors placed a dog bed and food nearby in case Cuddles had run away. The West Metro firemen also released images of the puppy in the hopes that someone would find her.
However, after nearly three days of searching for the hero, FOX31’s Greg Nieto reported that Cuddles’ body was discovered inside the residence by family and friends.
According to Nieto, Cuddles is credited with saving her family’s lives by alerting them to the fire and allowing them to escape in time.
As of Wednesday, West Metro Fire reported the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help the family recover from the fire and the death of their puppy.