Dramatic police bodycam footage captured the moment a quick-thinking dog guided an Illinois police officer to his leash while being rescued from a terrifying house fire.
Flames were spewing from the back of the Aurora home when first responders arrived just before 1 p.m. on Sept. 11 and rushed inside to search for anyone trapped, according to the Aurora Police Department.
Harrowing video released by the department shows officer Michael Ely busting down the front door, then searching room by room as smoke filled the empty house and alarms blared, before finally finding Oakley, a 4-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, behind a pet gate.
The officer removed the gate and reached for Oakley’s collar, but the brave pup bolted down the hallway — later pausing to look back and make sure Ely was following, the bodycam footage shows.
The clever pooch — a rescue dog reportedly adopted from local organization Players for Pits — led the officer into the kitchen, where his leash hung by the back door, then sat patiently as Ely clipped it on — calling him a “good boy” as the two made their way out of the smoke-clogged home.
Police said no one else was inside the home and no injuries were reported.
“I’m proud of the way our officers handled the situation,” Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas said, WGN reported.
“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.”
A preliminary investigation determined the fire began in the attic, with no signs of foul play.
While the homeowners were advised to stay elsewhere for the time being, they said they are grateful their courageous and beloved dog was brought to safety.
“He is an athletic dog who loves to play and wrestle,” the unidentified homeowners told the outlet.
“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.”
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