Dog who saved student from fire wins award

Melody's medical alert dog Mia won the national award after coming to her aid

An assistance dog who saved her owner from a house fire has been honoured.

Melody Chen, a student at Reaseheath College in Nantwich, began to feel unwell and lost consciousness while she was heating oil in a frying pan.

The oil burst into flames but her medical alert dog Mia managed to bring her round before guiding her to safety, Ms Chen said.

The German shepherd was honoured at this year's Animal Star Awards.

The fire started in March and Ms Chen's housemate was out at the time, Stoke-on-Trent Live reported in April.

Speaking of the incident, the student, who is asthmatic and suffers from low blood sugar and a heart condition, said she woke up to Mia “barking frantically”.

The dog then started tugging at her sleeve to guide her out the back door.

“As I passed the kitchen door I realised the flames were ceiling height and we needed to get out fast,” Ms Chen said.

“What was especially amazing was that Mia isn’t yet two years old and had never seen flames before.

“The way she reacted to it was really something – she just knew she had to get me out.

“I don’t want to think what would have happened if Mia hadn’t been there.”

Ms Chen was checked over by paramedics before being given the all clear and the fire was put out.

Melody has owned Mia since the German shepherd was eight weeks old

Mia won "assistance dog of the year" at the national Animal Star Awards in November.

The pair were nominated before the fire in March and judges said they were impressed by their close bond.

Ms Chen has owned Mia since she was eight weeks old and said she did all her training with guidance from a tutor.

She previously avoided going out due to her health issues but said Mia had “done so much” for her and helped with her confidence.

Ms Chen has studied animal management at the college and said she hoped to go on learn paramedic science at university after her course.