Dog that saved family from burning home slammed for failing to do more

Photo by emildom75 Some Rights Reserved

Samson the Labrador may have been hailed a hero by the local press last week but today he was slammed by the family he rescued from a blazing building for failing to do more to save their home.

The four-year-old pet was feted by the local media after his barking roused the Middleton family from their slumber as smoke billowed through their Dorset home last Tuesday.

An incorrectly-fitted smoke alarm had failed to sound after the embers from an open fireplace set fire the family-of-four’s detached home in Weymouth last week.

Local paper The Dorset Daily Bugle hailed Samson a hero on its front page, describing the pet as “Samson the wonder dog” and exhibiting “amazing puppy power” in alerting neighbours to the blaze.

Samson also featured in a four minute TV bulletin the following day on the region’s six o’clock news.

But last night dad-of-two Tom Middleton, 44, one of the family members rescued from the blaze questioned the heroic role of the family pet.

“I will concede that Samson’s barking woke us up,” he said. “But by the time we were alerted the blaze was well alight? Why did he take so long?

“And I would question his part in efforts put out the fire. You can’t tell me he didn’t see the smouldering carpet. Even when he did spot it, there’s no evidence to suggest he did anything to put it out.

“There was a vase full of water on the dining room table which would have put the blaze out within seconds. But it remained untouched.”

Neighbours were also alerted by Samson’s barking, and Ian Carlisle, 34, has stepped forward to shed more light on the event of that night.

He said: “I looked through the window at the height of the blaze and rather than helping, the mutt appeared to be getting in the way.

“He was jumping up and down and clawing at the family’s legs as they were trying to get out.

“While we considered tackling the blaze, Samson just wanted to get out of the house. As soon as we opened the front door he was out like a shot and found whimpering three streets away. Not exactly what you’d call heroic, is it?”

Bugle editor Wallace McKay has vowed to investigate the story in light of the new allegations.

He said: “We pride ourselves on delivering the truth, and in this case there are serious doubts raised by Samson’s role in this whole sorry affair.

“The public can be assured we will not rest until we get to the bottom of this matter.”

> Photo by emildom75 Some Rights Reserved