“No one else wanted to adopt my rescue dog, now he’s saved my children’s lives” The Smith family from Bastrop County, Texas, might not be alive today if it weren’t for their rescue dog, Chrome. […]

The Smith family from Bastrop County, Texas, might not be alive today if it weren’t for their rescue dog, Chrome.

Laura Smith and her two sons – Alex, 12, and Ian, six – were asleep on the night of 4 March, when she was woken by Chrome at around 1am.

Laura thought it was just because he needed the toilet, but Chrome led her to the source of a fire in their home, before running back up the hallway to wake up the two boys.

The i newsletter latest news and analysis Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The house and many of the family’s possessions were destroyed in the blaze, but the family are all safe and well – all thanks to Chrome.

Hero dog

“It was just my sons and me in the home,” Laura told the i. “I do want to say that we did have smoke alarms, they were tested and were working that week, but the two closest to the boys’ room failed to alarm and the one closest to me started alarming after we were out of the house.

“If Chrome hadn’t woken me up, it would have been too late to get to the boys.”

Laura said Chrome stayed with her until she realised the house was on fire, before taking off down the hallway to wake up the two boys.

“He’s definitely my hero right there, he’s a good dog,” she told US news channel KXAN.

Love at first sight

The Smiths rescued Chrome from Bastrop County Animal Shelter last November after Laura fell in love with him at first sight – but until then he had struggled to find a family.

Ana Watson, a full-time volunteer at the shelter, recounts how many families found him too high energy to adopt.

That’s until they took him to a tractor supply event, at which there was a space for dog adoptions, and he crossed paths with Laura.

Laura believes she and Chrome were destined to be together. “It had to be fate, something bigger, to put us together,” she told the i.

Read more This elderly dog stayed overnight in the wilderness with a lost 3-year-old, then led rescuers to her

“I was not looking for another dog and was only going to look, but when I saw him across the lot, I knew he was special.

“Although there were other dogs at the adoption event, puppies even, there was no other dog but Chrome for me. Ian tried to get me to look at others, but it was love at first sight.

“I wasn’t leaving without him. There were definite tears of happiness while I was filling out his paperwork!”

Special bond

After Laura told Ana at Bastrop County shelter of Chrome’s heroics, they decided it was their duty to help get the Smith family back on their feet.

They have raised $1,000, and also provided Chrome with dog food, treats, and a special certificate commending his “heroic acts of bravery and love”.

Laura says she is putting the money towards finding a new place, and in particular any pet deposits they have to pay in order to keep Chrome.

In the meantime, the family are being put up in a home provided by St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Elgin.

“My bond with Chrome was pretty good before the fire and since the fire, it’s become even tighter,” Laura said.

“We hate being apart from each other! He’s always gotten lots of love and belly rubs, but he’s getting so much more now.”