From Pup Burn Victim to Firefighter!

At 3 weeks old, Jake was trapped in a burning garage. The ceiling collapsed, blocking the exit, before Jake could get out.

Jake was saved by local firefighter Bill Lindler.

“I noticed there was some smoke coming from my neighbor’s yard. The residents were yelling their puppy was in the building. I ran back into my house, grabbed some firefighting gear and ran across the street.”

That's when Bill entered the burning garage and found Jake hiding beneath a couch on the verge of death.

"I brought him outside, and he was pretty bad," said Lindler. "He wasn't moving. He wasn't breathing. I did mouth-to-snout on him, until we could administer oxygen."

Although he was saved, Jake still suffered burns to 75% of his body, including his paw pads.

But the little pup survived. However, by then Jake's family had abandoned him at the vet's office.

Bill to the rescue - again!

“I contacted the vet and...that’s when me and my family decided we would adopt him. I asked how much the medical bills would cost, and the vet told me that it was fitting that I should want him since I was the one who saved him, and he told us we didn't have to worry about the bills."

As Jake grew stronger, and his burns began to heal, Bill began bringing Jake along with him for his shifts at the fire station.

"Everybody was just thrilled to death," Bill said. "He's just the cutest little thing there is. Everybody fell in love with him.

Just having Jake around to greet them after returning from a call has done wonders for the firefighters' morale.

And for that priceless role, he soon earned some recognition.

"Talking with my chief, and higher ups from the city, they thought it would be fitting to swear him in and make him an honorary firefighter," said Bill. "He's also now our official mascot for the fire department."

Bill's wife even converted an old firefighting jacket for him!

Now he goes to schools to help kids learn about fire safety.

"I'd like to see him be a therapy dog for burned children one day, so they can see that he's a survivor and that, despite the scars, they're all still beautiful. But right now though, we're working on having him be an arson detection dog." says Bill

"He's very happy and very healthy. I'm very proud," said Bill. "Sometimes people ask about the scars, and when they do I tell them Jake's story. I tell them that the scars are just his badge from being a firefighter."