An Akron family is crediting their dog with saving five children and three adults by alerting them to a house fire.

Annie Geiger, the owner of the dog, was emotional as she talked about the dog's possible life-saving actions.

"That dog, right there, if he hadn't woken anyone up, I don't even want to think about what would have have happened," Geiger said.

Donna Freeman, who was also staying at the house with her son and mother, said the house, at 1214 Bellows, caught fire at around 2 a.m. Monday.

As smoke filled the place, the dog--named Bear--woke Freeman up by nudging her several times. Freeman, and her mother, Bernice Freeman were then able to alert the others from both families, including the kids between the ages of four and 16.

Bear is a seven-year-old American Shepherd.

While Freeman believes this to be a case of arson, the Akron Fire Department tells News 5 the cause is still under investigation. Freeman said someone poured lighter fluid on their back porch and set the house on fire.