Circle of Love: This Hero Dog Alerted His Family to a Fire and Saved Lives — And Then Students’ Donation Saved His Life
This pup's full-circle rescue story will touch your heart — and proves the loyalty of our four-legged friends
Husband and wife Steve Mehnert and Jen Vaughn were enjoying a barbecue with their trusty dog, Koda, by their side. The Brookfield, Wisconsin-based couple had adopted the frisky Great Pyrenees-Lab mix a year earlier. Koda was instantly friendly (hence his name, a Native American word for “friend”) and soon enough he grew to 90 pounds — a true gentle giant. Steve and Jen knew Koda was special from the beginning, but after their barbecue took a dark turn, they saw just how capable their dog really was.
A hero dog gives a howl of warning
Following their barbecue, Steve and Jen went to bed as Koda curled up downstairs on the living room sofa. All were soon sleeping but at 5 am, Koda suddenly started barking. He would often bark if a neighborhood cat wandered by the house at night, but now he was howling like never before.
As Steve went to see what Koda was up to, he spotted an ominous glow coming from the back of the house. Earlier, he had emptied the grill ashes from the barbecue into a metal bucket. Strong winds had blown the still-hot embers and ignited the back of the house. When Steve opened the door, the fresh oxygen sucked the flames inside. Steve screamed for Jen to get out as the fire alarm began to blare.
Jen grabbed her phone and called 911 as she felt her way down the smoky stairs and joined Steve in the yard. The couple quickly became anxious as they realized they couldn’t find Koda. Steve raced back into the house, looking everywhere for the dog before being driven out by the smoke. He tried multiple times, emerging coughing and alone.
The firefighters arrived, and while the rest of the squad battled flames, firefighter/paramedics J.P. Kronschnabel and Brandon Rachwal began searching for Koda. Finally, they found him sprawled and unmoving on the kitchen floor. Each grabbing two legs, the men carried the pup outside. Jen and Steve feared the worst.
A gift proves to be a lifesaver
Thankfully, Koda was able to survive the fire. Three years earlier, students at Brookfield Central High School’s Promoting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) had been looking for a good cause for their fundraiser. When they learned that many animals perish because fire departments aren’t equipped with pet-sized oxygen masks, they raised money and donated two kits, each containing three different size pet masks, to their local department.
The firefighters hadn’t yet had to use them, but they ended up saving Koda’s life. Brandon fitted one of the largest masks over Koda’s snout and turned on the oxygen while J.P. massaged the dog’s chest. Suddenly, Koda’s stomach lurched as the clear mask grew foggy with his breath. He then began squirming. Jen and Steve gave joyful thanks.
Following this full-circle lifesaving moment for their hero dog, the couple went to the hospital where they were treated for smoke inhalation and burns.
Meanwhile, a neighbor took Koda to the pet ER, and a few days later, he was reunited with his people — thanks to the oxygen he was given. The fire department then invited the PAWS club members to meet Koda and see the difference their gift had made.
“We were all so excited,” says club advisor and English teacher Jamie Silver. “We’re already planning another fundraiser so we can provide kits to other area departments.”
“The fire had engulfed the attic and filled our bedroom with carbon monoxide. Firefighters said another five minutes and Steve and I never would have woken up,” says Jen. “Koda saved our lives, but we would surely have lost our best buddy without those masks. Koda saved us, and they saved him. We’ll be forever grateful.”
Read about more heroic dogs here:
This ‘Pupcasso’ Raises Thousands of Dollars For Charity — With Her Own Paintings!
‘Koda the Fluff’: This Convertible-Driving Pup Is Changing Lives One Smile at a Time
The Hero Pups Program Is Giving Our Country’s Heroes a New ‘Leash’ On Life — Here’s How
A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.
