We all know that we'd do anything to save our pets. They're one of the best things in our lives. But, as it turns out, maybe our pets think the same of us too.
Fred heroically saved the life of his owner, Donald VanWormer, after scratching him awake to alert him to the flames engulfing his home. VanWormer, of Tillamook, Oregon, described the frantic actions of his kitten to wake him up, as reported by KBTX.
Fred was "rowing, scratching, freaking out". For a good reason - when he looked up, the flames had took over the attic. VanWormer had to crawl out of his home, suffering minor burns. But, thanks to the quick actions of Fred the 9 week-old kitten, he managed to get out of there alive. Tragically, Fred didn't make it.
But this wasn't out of a lack of trying. After being alerted to the fire, VanWormer did grab the kitten before making his escape. But, in the heavy smoke, he lost hold of the kitten. When he realised he'd dropped Fred, he tried to re-enter the burning building, but he hit his head and passed out.
And despite his pleas to the firefighters that tended to him after he woke up, he wasn't allowed to go back in there.
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The Kitten Almost Got Out Of the Fire
Tragically, it looked like Fred almost got out of there alive. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters found Fred's body just inside the doorway.
VanWormer, expectedly, spoke highly of little Fred. "When I got Fred, I told him, 'This is my lucky cat'. One of the smarter cats I've ever had. So, I thought we had a lot of time together for the next 16, 20 years with that guy, but that cat saved my life."
VanWormer said that it was a faulty dehumidifer that caused the fire. He added that he was glad his girlfriend and daughter weren't home when the fire happened. The damages to his home exceed $1 million. He has set up a GoFundMe to rebuild.
We salute you, Fred. God bless!
