A pug in Idaho just made history in his town by being the first dog to be given the Hometown Hero award, which he earned by saving his family from a potentially fatal fire.
Jaxson, the 11-year-old pug of Meridian’s finance director, Todd Lavoie, helped to prevent the fire from spreading through their home on August 29th when he alerted his owners to the flames, the city said in a press release.
After an electrical outlet caught fire, Jaxson began to bark “irregularly” and “persistently,” waking up Lavoie, who rushed downstairs and used a fire extinguisher to put it out.
Lavoie then shut off the home’s electricity, and the fire department checked for any hot spots that may have been lingering. Firefighters determined that if not for Jaxson, the fire could have been deadly, as Lavoie would not have been aware of the fire until the fire alarms went off. By that time, it may have been too late to escape the home unscathed.
Jaxson was honored in a ceremony Tuesday, attended by city and fire officials. Photos from the event show him donning a red firefighter hat during the celebration.
The pup is the first-ever animal to receive the Hometown Hero award, which honors an individual for their “outstanding bravery” and “heroic values of courage, compassion, character, initiative, and responsibility,” according to the city.
The Lavoie family said they were “very thankful” for Jaxson’s life-saving actions, adding that they “know the fire could have been much worse if it were not for” him.