'Hero' dog raises alarm over Cardiff garden fire

  • Published
Picture of BaileyImage source, Friends of the Dogs Wales
Image caption,

Bailey was at Newport City Dogs Home

A rescue dog has been hailed a "hero" after he alerted his foster carer to a fire in St Mellons, Cardiff.

Bailey, a Staffordshire bull terrier, made Nicola Jones aware of the fire by barking and refusing to move and she called the fire service.

The blaze had spread across a neighbouring garden and had nearly reached the house.

Susie James from Friends of the Dogs Wales said Bailey was still looking for a permanent home.

A petition against, external adding Staffordshire bull terriers to the Dangerous Dogs Act is being debated in Westminster Hall on Monday.

Bailey was rescued in Newport after being found tied to a lamppost in the city.

He was then kept at Newport City Dogs Home before being temporarily placed with Ms Jones in St Mellons.

She took Bailey in on Sunday afternoon, but soon noticed that something was not right.

"At about three o'clock he woke up and started barking and sniffing the air," she said.

"He seemed anxious and unsettled, which I put down to the change of environment, so even though it was pretty warm outside, I put his lead on, and took him out to walk him in a shady area.

Image source, Nicola Jones
Image caption,

Bailey had been resting on Sunday afternoon before becoming unsettled by the fire

"As we approached the end of the road Bailey stopped dead in his tracks and started barking again.

"He wouldn't move, wouldn't budge, and I followed his gaze.

"Imagine my horror when I saw smoke, then what was clearly a fire blazing in someone's back garden."

Image source, Nicola Jones
Image caption,

The fire had spread across the neighbouring garden and nearly reached the house

The fire had destroyed a pagoda, shed, pergola, fencing and bushes.

"I'll be sad having to take Bailey back to the dogs home this week, but I'm glad I could give him some respite in the hope that he won't be in kennels much longer" she said.

The story comes as many people tweet about #PetFireSafetyDay - a national day raising awareness about fire risks involving pets.

This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2 by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2 by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 3 by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 3 by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Ms James shared Bailey's story on the Friends of the Dogs Wales Facebook page and said he now needed a permanent home.

"He's a senior dog, maybe 12 or 13 years old - he's hung up his superhero cape and just wants to find somewhere to retire now," she said.