On Sunday I was getting the bin ready to take out so took binbag out then Abby came into the kitchen so while I got the bins from upstairs I left the bin bag on top of the cooker anyway I realised I was going to be late for rugby so just put abbyinto the living room and off I went half hour later I got a call saying come home house is on fire, first thought is abby ok so race home to find Windows at the front of the house open and a fireman stroking Abby and telling her mum will be home soon and everything is ok. First things first get her and check her over all ok then go with the firemen to look at the damage turns out Abby had jumped up at the cooked and switched on two of the hobs, The whole kitchen needs to be replastered and all the units need to be replaced and the cooker has had it, everyroom in the house except the livingroom  need to be redecorated as it was the only door that was closed. I count myself very lucky and I will be making sure that I switch the cooker from the wall.
The police and firemen commented that Abby may look the part but was on of the worst guard dog they had ever seen, my neighbour had put the fire out by the time they had arrived and when they let him in he tried to get Abby out of the living room(he isnt a dog person but knew what she means to me) he said he was bricking it as he thought as she was afraid she might bite she just backed off and he felt she was getting stressed by his presence so he closed the door again as she wasnt in any danger, from outside she let him put his hand in and open both big windows then the firemen tried to get her to come out the window and she wouldnt so they stayed with her to comfort her until I got there.
I will be dropping off a card tomorrow to thank them and my neighbour got the biggest bottle of Jack I could find because with out him I dread to think what would have happened.
Anyone handy with a paint brush just pop round.
Mary

wow, big hugs to you both, hope everything gets back to normal soon... how lucky were you that Abby was behind a closed door!

glad she is ok, units and furniture can be replaced, your best friend cant.

((hugs))

Did abby close living room door???
Glad she is ok, and good job your neighbour was around :)
Lea :)

No she switched the cooker on while I was upstairs I just didnt notice, I always leave her in the living room and close the door as I dont want her having run of the house while I am out.
When I got to work in the evening lots of people were saying that I should have gotten rid of her as a dog who starts fires is too dangerous to keep(mental picture of Abby lighting matches) I cant believe the way some people think, it was my fault as i should never have left the bag on the cooker and I should have checked it was switched off before I let but the way I see it is there is no point in saying what if . It could have been a lot worse i could have lost Abby or I could be someone who doesnt check their smoke alarm and it to happened at night or I could have had a gas cooker imagine her switching that on it would have been about three hrs before I got back.
Mary

Get rid of her because of an accident :shocked: Obviously not dog lovers then :(
At least everyone is in one piece and alive, material things are replaceable, lives are not.
And dont think what if's you will worry yourself into an early grave doing that.
Hope you get things sorted soon.
Lea :)

No not dog lovers and they think I am nuts as Abby is treated as part of the family well why not she is my hairy baby.
Mary

Hi Mary

I'm so glad that Abby is okay :)  It's still a real shock to the system when something like this happens even when no-one is hurt (dogs included) I hope nothing precious is damaged.

Take Care
Angela x

No everything we lost was replacable it just stinks at the moment so I am in the process of washing everything.
Mary

my son a firefighther[THEY NOT CALL FIREMAN ANY MORE BEACUSE OF THE WOMAN IN THE SERVICES TOO}THE STORYS he comes home with with aniamls are funny,the was one about a mouse,to long to write about,a cat up a tree jet wash out of it,with the approveal of the rspca,be fore they did it,the list go on ,
but they have their bad day too,and winter on the way,
glad abby ok,

Hi Abbymum.  Have you got house insurance?  My son had a fire in his house a few years ago and the insurance company paid for everything.  It all had to be redecorated because of smoke damage, all the washable/dry cleanable  items were whisked away and 'sorted' and the 'beyond repair' items were replaced.  They were absolutely brilliant! (Abbey National Insurance)

Hi Abbeymum. It does stink, doesn't it? My ex used to leave things on the cooker and fall asleep, causing the neighbours to call out the fire brigade.........he was a firefighter, too Check out your house insurance if the damage is bad. Why should you pay out all that money when you've got insurance to cover it? ;)

We once had a house fire. Our dog pushed the rocking chair onto a gas fire. My mum was outside at the time talking to someone who had come to the door. Luckily the dog could open the door so once the fire started he opened the door and tottled off down the street. My mum went chasing after him only to see smoke coming out of the house once she'd caught him. We ended up in a hotel (breakfast and tea paid for yum) and we got back in 2 days before xmas!

Hi Mary,

Thank God everyone is OK, it must have been a terrible shock for you :( I hope it doesn't take too long to sort it all out.

Looking on the bright side, at least you will get a new kitchen ;) :P

Thinking of you

Nat xxx

Thank goodness everyone is OK. Abby obviously likes her scraps cooked :D

Pleased to hear everyone is safe - must have been really scary - good luck with the clean up.....yuk! :)

Poor you i know how you feel :-(
My son set fire to his room when he was 5 he had seen something on a cartoon and thought he would have a go got scared and came downstairs as we were downstairs his room was starting to burn! By the time i smelt it the whole upstairs was thick black smoke it was awfull in a blind panic i shot upstairs and put it out, god i can still smell it now! :-(
We had to sleep downstairs for a week and he had to sleep at my mums but the insurance were brill if it could be professionally cleaned it was or replaced the whole upstairs and staircase needed decorating and was all done for us within the week!!
It was awfull but it could of been worse he was unharmed that was all that mattered to me.
Keep your chin up :-)