Charlie, a lab hound mix rescued from a, was reunited with her owner Tuesday to celebrate her third birthday.

The single animal involved in the call was the only dog rescued; two people are named in the account: owner Ann Sanders and Marcella Somuah of D.C. fire and emergency services. Charlie spent four days — 96 hours — on oxygen at a local animal hospital after firefighters and medics removed her from heavy smoke conditions. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), approximately 1,000 house fires annually are caused by pets accidentally turning on stove knobs, knocking over candles, or chewing on electrical cords.

Marcella Somuah, a paramedic with D.C. fire and emergency services, described the scene at the house. “I immediately approached the firefighter and I said I would take care of the dog,” she said. Somuah added: “The dog was laying there lifeless, breathing very deep and shallow. She had a lot of mucus coming out of her nose from the face mask. I immediately took the face mask off and cleared the airway.” First responders typically prepare for animal rescues through specialized training that includes team drills and classroom instruction on animal behavior, ensuring they are equipped to handle emergencies involving pets.

On scene, responders cleared Charlie’s airway and provided oxygen before she was transported to a local animal hospital, where she received round-the-clock care and oxygen support for four days. The account says she had been exposed to heavy smoke conditions during the fire and was described at the scene as “laying there lifeless, breathing very deep and shallow, had a lot of mucus coming out of her nose.” The effective emergency response highlighted the critical role that trained personnel play in animal rescues, further emphasizing the importance of preparation during such incidents.

Charlie returned to her owner Tuesday for a small reunion that doubled as a birthday celebration. “We are celebrating Charlie’s third birthday today, which we wouldn’t be able to do if it wasn’t for these brave men and women,” Sanders said, adding later, “We were 6,000 miles away when we got the call that our house was on fire. And of course, the main thing that we were concerned about was our dog.” This incident serves as a poignant reminder for pet owners about creating a family escape plan that includes pets, identifying exits, and practicing drills to ensure their safety in emergencies.

The reunion highlighted the sequence of emergency medical care and veterinary treatment that followed the rescue. After initial care from D.C. fire and emergency services personnel, Charlie spent 96 hours on oxygen at the local hospital before returning home to mark her third birthday with Sanders.

A video of the incident and aftermath is available online, documenting parts of the rescue and reunion, including the moment first responders handed Charlie back to her owner on Tuesday: Horrible house fire, Charlie the dog jumped out the window! – YouTube.

For Sanders, the gathering was an expression of gratitude toward the responders who intervened. “We just want to say thank everybody for everything,” she said.

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Original reporting: view the original article.