An 11-year-old pug in Idaho is being hailed as a hometown hero after saving his family from a house fire.

Jaxson's family said the pug barked in a different way than normal on Aug. 29, according to KBOI. When owner Todd Lavoie went to investigate, he saw sparks coming from an electrical outlet. A small fire started, which Lavoie was able to put out with a fire extinguisher.

The Meridian Fire Department arrived to inspect the house and credited the alert pooch with sparing the family any significant property damage.

On Tuesday, Jaxson became the first animal to receive the town's Hometown Hero Award. He also received a special firefighter badge.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Fireworks will be set off at dusk at Alpharetta’s Independence Day event at Wills Park. The photo shows a view of a previous year’s fireworks from the nearby Walk of Memories at American Legion Post 201. (Courtesy of Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau/Jack Tuszynski)

Credit: Jack Tuszynski/PhotoJack.net

Featured

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC