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Pet Dog Saves Family From Burning Home

POSTED: Monday, July 14, 2008

UPDATED: 2:12 pm EDT July 14, 2008

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Junior, a Shih Tzu mix, has been credited with saving the lives of a family of eight from their burning home in Fort Lauderdale Monday morning.

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Madelus Davilmar said he was sound asleep inside his home on the 1700 block of Northwest 14th Avenue when he heard Junior barking uncontrollably. When he woke, Davilmar could barely see through the heavy smoke inside his bedroom.

Davilmar said he jumped into action and got the entire family out safely, including a 6-month-old boy.

The house is gutted. Fire investigators have not yet revealed what sparked the fire but they do believe it is suspicious.

The Red Cross is assisting the family.

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