HANAHAN, S.C.–A Hanahan firefighter and his four-legged friend are both becoming quite the celebrity these days after appearing on ABC News, CBS News and a slew of other media outlets around the globe–but rightly so.
You see, Bill Lindler, with the Hanahan Fire Department is no ordinary firefighter, and his new best friend, Jake, is no ordinary dog.
Last April, Lindler had just returned home from work when he saw flames rising up from his neighbor’s shed. Without hesitation, he leaped into action.
“I saw Mama dog and several puppies running out,” Lindler told The Dodo. “I saw one puppy trying to make his way out, when a piece of the ceiling fell on top of him. He started yelping, but he wiggled himself free and backed into a corner and cowered down.”
That little puppy was three-week-old Jake. He suffered some pretty bad burns that covered more than 70 percent of his body.
“He wasn’t doing too good, and I gave him mouth-to-snout breaths until we could get an oxygen mask for him,” Lindler told ABC News.
When Lindler rushed the tiny Pit Bull to a local veterinarian, he was warned that he may not survive. Lindler later found out that from the vet that the original owners couldn’t afford to care for Jake’s injuries.
“They had abandoned him,” he said. “So I adopted him!”
Jake proved to be quite the fighter. Once he fully recovered, Lindler said he allowed the pup to accompany him to the fire department this past September.
“All the guys fell in love with him, and the ladies at town hall always have treats for him,” he said.
Recently, Hanahan’s fire chief and mayor actually proclaimed Jake an honorary firefighter and swore him in as the official mascot for the fire department.
Lindler says he hopes to soon be able to train Jake to become an arson detection dog.
You can follow Jake and his new journey as a “fire dog” by liking his Facebook page. Currently, he has more than 18,000 fans. Of course, we’ve got a feeling, that number will continue to grow.
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