Two dogs were rescued from a house fire Monday, with one of them receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from a neighbor.
The dogs were rescued from a burning home by firefighters from the Hastings Fire Department, then were quickly cared for by bystanders and rushed to the veterinarian.
The Hastings home caught fire about 11:30 a.m. Monday. The residents were not home at the time, but their two dogs and a rabbit were.
After firefighters knocked down the flames enough to enter, they found the two pets and rushed them outside into the arms of a family member. One white dog was struggling to breathe, and that's when neighbor Tara Mauch jumped in. While the dog was held by another bystander, Mauch began giving the dog mouth-to-mouth.
"I was just trying to blow the air out of his lungs," she said.
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What she did apparently helped the dog. Shortly thereafter, the second dog was rescued by firefighters. The two were then taken to a nearby veterinarian for care by family members and a neighbor.
Mauch had arrived earlier and when she heard there were two dogs inside, she got herself prepared. When the moment came she didn't hesitate.
"I was pacing around, just waiting for the animals," Mauch said. "I was like, 'Please pull the dogs out. Please pull the dogs out.'"
This wasn't the first time Mauch has helped animals in need.
"I'm obsessed with saving animals," she said.
"My boyfriend doesn't like it," Mauch joked.
Later, firefighters were able to save a rabbit from inside the home, too.
Richardson writes for the Hastings Star Gazette
