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'Angel' dog saves owner from house fire

Makin got up, opened his bedroom door and discovered the fire blocking all but one of his home's exits.

GARLAND CO., Ark. (KTHV) - The bond between a man and his best friend recently reached new heights.

A Lonsdale man says his dog is to thank after the pair escaped from their burning mobile home on Friday, Jan. 19.

Eddie Makin has lived on Rigsby Loop, just off Route 128, for more than 20 years.

"I love it here. It's better than the city," Makin said.

As he got ready for work around 9 a.m. that morning, Makin had no idea of the smoke and flames just beyond his bedroom door. That is until Angel, his 14-year-old terrier, alerted there was trouble.

"She kept jumping up on the bed and scratching me, and I said, 'Baby it's all good.' She wouldn't let me get back in the blankets."

So Makin got up, opened his bedroom door and discovered the fire blocking all but one of his home's exits.

"I said, 'Baby we gotta go out the window.' So I got her in my one hand and threw my shoes out. When I went to jump I said 'oh no this ain't gonna be fun.'"

But with Angel under his arm, Makin jumped nine feet to safety below.

"When I landed like this, I said, 'You really must be an angel.'"

The remains of Makin's home.

Lonsdale Fire Chief Eddie Tackett said firefighters had the flames under control within about 15 minutes. However, the mobile home was a total loss. Chief Tackett believes the fire was started by a wood stove being used for heat.

Now, left with little more than charred family memories, clothes from a neighbor and the shoes on his feet, Makin said he's grateful for what he does have.

"I got whatever I needed to get out of the house," he said. "That was me and my dog."

Neighbors helped Makin clean up and sift through the rubble the next day. He is currently looking for a temporary place to stay and said he hopes to rebuild on the property.

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