Novato, CA – A German shepherd dog saved its owner’s life after the Novato man was exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, fire officials said Tuesday.
A Novato Fire District crew responded to a report Feb. 26 of an unidentified 80-year-old man with multiple dog bites at the 800 block of Atherton Avenue, according to Sandy Wargo, a spokeswoman. The house smelled like natural gas and the man told firefighters his dog woke him with a paw to the face, Wargo said.
The Novato resident told firefighters he fell to the floor and when he got up, and the dog began tugging on his arm and bit his arm so hard he “woke up” and called 911, Wargo said.
Firefighters took the man to the hospital with traumatic injuries and exposure to prolonged levels of carbon dioxide, Wargo said.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. was notified and determined that the gas-fueled wall heater was clogged with debris and soot, Wargo said.