Bear, a three-year-old British Bulldog, was rescued from a fire at Taylor Lane, Loscoe, by a firefighter from Eastwood using a specially-designed pet oxygen mask, donated by Vets for Pets on Nottingham Road.
On July30, firefighters from Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service responded to a fire at a commercial premises on Taylor Lane, Loscoe.
As the flames spread, reports came in that a dog was trapped inside the building.
On-Call firefighter and crew manager Joe Grimes, was part of 14 separate fire crews who attended the scene and his team entered the building at 12:24pm to save Bear.
Joe said: "The crew went into the fire following reports of a dog being trapped within the building.
"When we found Bear, it was a struggle carrying the equivalent of a small adult out, but we knew we had to get him to safety.
"We then used the donated oxygen mask and thankfully, Bear seemed to make a quick recovery."
Bear’s owner, David Simpson, expressed their deep gratitude, saying: "We are so grateful to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire fire services for rescuing our dog.
"Bear is doing well and is back to his usual self, thanks to their incredible service!"
The rescue was made possible thanks to proactive preparation by the Eastwood crew.
Just two weeks before this incident, they visited the Vets for Pets Eastwood practice after realising they were without a pet oxygen mask, having lost one in a previous rescue.
The firefighters were pleasantly surprised when the practice generously donated a replacement, ensuring they were fully equipped for any future emergencies.
Joe continued: "Sadly, we lost our pet oxygen mask at a previous house fire where another dog was rescued.
"The dog was taken away from the incident with the oxygen mask, meaning we didn’t have one on the fire engine.
“On behalf of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to thank Vets for Pets, as if it wasn’t for their donation, the outcome of Bears’ rescue may not have been positive."
Dr Jonathan Hadley, practice owner and veterinary surgeon at Vets for Pets Eastwood, added: "We were more than happy to donate a replacement pet oxygen mask to Nottinghamshire Fire Service.
"It’s remarkable that the mask was used so soon to save Bear’s life.
“We’re fortunate to be part of such a close-knit community and to support our local services.
"The swift and skilled response from Nottinghamshire Fire Service highlights their thorough preparation and training in handling emergencies, including those involving pets.
"We’re glad that our contribution could play a role in their important work.”