Rescued pup rescues family right back
Categories: Kids 8-11, Health & safety, Weird but true
With the exception of our fancy French dog, all of our pets were either adopted from a shelter or found wandering homeless. Abandoned and abused animals need love too and often repay their rescuers with unconditional and unwavering loyalty. Clearly, this was the case with Bella, a 3-year-old golden retriever/collie mix who was rescued as an abused puppy by the Feuling family.
Sue Fueling and her 9-year-old daughter McKenzie were sleeping early Friday morning when they were awakened by Bella's barking and jumping on the bed. Smelling smoke, Sue grabbed her daughter and ran out of the house. When she tried to coax Bella and her other dog, a 6-month-old golden retriever named Maddie, out of the house, they refused to leave. "Bella must have thought McKenzie was still in the house," Feuling said.
The Feulings were taken to the hospital and monitored for smoke inhalation, but sadly the dogs didn't survive. The fire gutted their home and destroyed all of their possessions, but it is Bella and Maddie that Sue Feuling is mourning. "Everything I lost is nothing compared to them," she said.
Sue Fueling and her 9-year-old daughter McKenzie were sleeping early Friday morning when they were awakened by Bella's barking and jumping on the bed. Smelling smoke, Sue grabbed her daughter and ran out of the house. When she tried to coax Bella and her other dog, a 6-month-old golden retriever named Maddie, out of the house, they refused to leave. "Bella must have thought McKenzie was still in the house," Feuling said.
The Feulings were taken to the hospital and monitored for smoke inhalation, but sadly the dogs didn't survive. The fire gutted their home and destroyed all of their possessions, but it is Bella and Maddie that Sue Feuling is mourning. "Everything I lost is nothing compared to them," she said.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Judy 2-12-2008 @ 1:20PM
I had a Golden for 2 years when we lived in a farm house on 3 acres. Best dog ever. What a bittersweet story.
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sarahmalusfelix 2-13-2008 @ 6:17AM
I would never leave my house without all of the family.
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Gina 2-13-2008 @ 10:57AM
You're an insensitive fool. Should she have let her nine-year-old daughter die because their beloved pet was probably confused because of the smoke?!
engarde68 2-13-2008 @ 6:48AM
Goldens are the best dogs. Unfortunately, Bella deserved humans that cared for her as much as she cared for them. Why did Sue Fueling leave the house without her loyal and true Bella? How can she live with herself?
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teresa teresa 2-13-2008 @ 7:01AM
excuse me why not go and pick up the dog and carry him/her out. I can not understand after her daughter was safe that she didnt get the dogs. My dogs are my babies
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jmetbsirois 2-13-2008 @ 8:53AM
My friends house burned down four years ago. Sadly, their labrador retriever was lost in the fire. They had gotten the dog out of the house, however, the dog ran back in when the house was fully engulfed in flames. There was nothing that could be done. It sounds as if the same thing happened here. Instead of judging others perhaps you should you look at the whole picture.
Leroy 2-13-2008 @ 7:07AM
Well thats a fine thank you!
You saved my daughter and I, so we'll run out and leave you inside to die.
Ingrate.
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Michael Huhndorf 2-13-2008 @ 7:13AM
What a sad story. My prayers are with Sue, her daughter, and Bella and Maddie. What brave doggies. They deserved better. I lost a dog recently, and it was the most gut wrenching thing I have ever gone thru. It still makes me cry sometimes.
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firesmart 2-13-2008 @ 7:44AM
You have obviously never been in a serious fire. I have a friend who ran out of her house into the snow without even any slippers on her feet, and with her two children tucked under her arms. As she ran out the door, the windows exploded, with flames billowing out the windows. One second before, there had been no sign of fire. If she had had a third child or stopped for pets, they'd all be dead. In this case, it says they were both taken to the hospital because of smoke inhlation. She was likely wheezing and unable to see due to smoke in her eyes. She would likely have left her child orphaned if she'd run back into the house to get the dog. Don't judge until you've been there!
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Joanne 2-13-2008 @ 8:00AM
this is such a wonderful but sad story..All you who are downing this poor woman, yes I would be so tempted to go back for my pets But what is the first thing you learn about fire safety...DON'T GO BACK INTO THE HOUSE...You people were not there you do not know how bad the fire was...it take seconds for a fire to engulf your home...I think she feels bad enough about her dog that she first saved as a homeless pup. Wear someones shoes before you judge them. I am not downing you but think and get facts before you write. I have rescued so many animals myself and spent many a sleepless night nursing them for what ever reason.
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Joey 2-13-2008 @ 8:07AM
I just recently lost my adopted cat in a fire that destroyed my home. He jumped into a fireman's arms out of a third floor window but the smoke inhalation and burns were so bad I had to put him down. I feel for this family, but Bella will bring them joy again. Roo did for me.
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Marie 2-13-2008 @ 8:11AM
STUPID A-S-S-H-O-L-E FOR NOT SAVING THE DOGS LIVES. THESE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE ANIMALS. TOO BAD THE STUPID MOTHER GOT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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tina max 2-13-2008 @ 8:19AM
Yes, what a horrible story. I assumed it would have a happy ending. I cannot understand why this family left the dogs in the home to die. Why did the firefighters not attempt to save theses dogs. I wish I never read the story.
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Princess 2-19-2008 @ 8:52PM
If you have never woke up to your house being on fire, DON'T judge this woman. We can all say that we would do this or that, but you have no idea how you would react if put into her place.
I am sure this woman's first instinct was to save her CHILD (as any good mother would). Once everyone is out of a burning house you DO NOT GO BACK IN (you should have learned that in kindergarten). If she had went back in to save 2 animals, her child may not have a mother today.
As a experienced firefighter I can tell you that we make every effort to SAFELY rescue pets from house fires. However, you don't endanger the life of a human being who has a family to go home to in order to save a cat or dog.
Mariah 2-13-2008 @ 8:20AM
:( Poor puppies!
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bobbie 2-13-2008 @ 8:35AM
What is wrong with you people? The safety of her family comes first. The dogs wouldn't come out. Is she to leave her baby in the street during the commotion and run inside? What would you be saying if something happened to the little girl because the mother was busy saving the dogs? Ugly hearted people you are! You don't go back into a burning house. My brother is a fireman and had a roof collapse on him. He would have been badly burned if not for his fire suit and fellow firefighters to help him out.
Who would take care of the little girl if that had happened to the mother? Of course in our messed up sense of worth these days, I can see how some of you place higher value on an animal than family! It's sad the dogs died but the family did survive and that is a good thing! Stop downing them...they have lost everything. Why don't you donate something good instead of giving a free bad opinion?
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sharon 2-13-2008 @ 8:38AM
I CANNOT believe the VERY FIRST story I choose to read on AOL this mornig, expecting a happy ending, is a story where the POOR PUPPIES ARE DEAD! Thanks alot AOL...now my day is off to a rotten start. Those poor pups! WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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stacey 2-13-2008 @ 8:43AM
It is very sad about the dogs! However, the hatefulness of some people on here is even sadder! Why do folks sometimes have such a rude and calloused attitude towards others without even considering the circumstances.....to say that the mother shouldn't have gotten out is absolutely horrible! Hopefully, you will never go through difficult times in your life...if you do, maybe someone just like you will be there.
Brian 2-13-2008 @ 9:01AM
Well at least Bella is in doggy heaven with my old golden retriever Annie
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YaYa 2-13-2008 @ 9:03AM
I wish the headline mentioned the dogs died for their loyalty too. I would not have read it. Was looking for a heartwarming story, not heartwrenching. Those of you pointing fingers...shame shame shame.
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