Rescued Dog Saves Sperry Family From Fire

By Emory Bryan, The News On 6

SPERRY, OK -- A Sperry family says their dog is a holiday hero. He woke them up after some food left on the stove caught fire.

Red, a not-so-cuddly looking dog, is getting lots of care and plenty of kisses. David and Kirsten Hilton say their dog Red saved their lives.

"I just dozed off, and I don't know how long it was later - the dog, he just landed on me.  And I woke up," said fire victim Kirsten Hilton.

Kirsten woke up to see flames coming from the kitchen. The couple's house burned Tuesday night in a spectacular fire just west of Sperry.

Related Story 12/2/2009: Osage County Family Escapes Fire After Dog Wakes Them

The whole family was asleep when it started.  The Hiltons did not have a working smoke detector, but they did have Red.

"And he knew if he jumped on me, I was going to wake up, and he jumped right on me, to where I had no choice but to wake up," Kirsten Hilton said. "He's our hero. If it wasn't for him, I don't know what would have happened."

The Hilton's adopted Red as a stray. Now they're homeless like he was - and they're all in a hotel courtesy of the Red Cross.

The Hilton's house did not burn to the ground, but they still lost everything they had except each other, the clothes they were wearing, and Red.

David Hilton was the last one out of the house.

"I seen flames come out the front door, from the other side of the house," said fire victim David Hilton.

My whole stove was on fire - the side of it, the cabinets. It was full of smoke, but I could see flames," he said.

The Hiltons say that Red will remain part of their family when they get into another home, and he might even get a few steaks for dinner.

The Country Corner Fire Department is holding a fundraiser breakfast for the Hilton family this Saturday at their fire station at 7301 West 113th Street North from 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.  

For more information about the fundraiser, call 695-7323.