Polite Pit Bull Rescued From Burning Home Leads Cop to His Leash First

An Illinois dog being rescued from a burning home made sure the police officer got his leash first. The Aurora Illinois Police Department shared bodycam footage and news of the heartwarming rescue on Facebook. Police officers were responding to a report of a house fire and knocked down the door to get inside.

“When officers arrived, they observed flames coming from the rear of the home. Unsure if anyone was inside, Investigator Michael Ely and Investigator Jacob Leonard entered the home after forcing entry,” The Aurora Illinois Police Department wrote on social media.

The officers found Oakley, a 4-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, in one of the smoke-filled rooms. Ely called to Oakley to come to him but instead Oakley ran past him and ran to the kitchen where his leash was hanging by the door. Ely quickly attached the leash telling Oakley he was a good boy.

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An Illinois police officer went above and beyond to rescue a family’s dog from a house fire last week. In a now-viral body camera video, Aurora Police Investigator Michael Ely located the dog named Oakley inside a smoke-filled home. The officer patiently followed the dog as he scurried away to get his leash before leaving the house. The fire, which originated in the attic, was quickly extinguished, and no people were inside the home.

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The pair then evacuated the house. Police say the fire appears to have started in the attic. No one else was inside at the time.

Oakley’s family was extremely grateful to the officers who saved him and shared: “Oakley is an American Staffordshire Terrier. He is a rescue dog from a local organization called Players for Pits. He was adopted as a puppy by our family. He is 4 years old and is an athletic dog who loves to play and wrestle. He enjoys snuggling with us, snoring loudly as he sleeps, sunbathing, and eating peanut butter. We are forever grateful to Mike at the Aurora Police Department for saving our sweet dog.”

“I’m proud of the way our officers handled this situation,” said Chief Matt Thomas afterwards. “Their quick response made a real difference, and it’s always rewarding when we can return a family member — even a four-legged one — safely to their loved ones.”