A guide dog interrupted a burglary and rescued a 54-year-old legally blind woman from a potential gas explosion early Friday in Northeast Philadelphia, police said.
At 2:47 a.m., police were called to the 4700 block of Marple Street in Holmesburg, where they found that the woman had been led out of her house, said Capt. Francis Bachmayer, commanding officer of Northeast Detectives. The house had been filled with natural gas, Bachmayer said.
The woman was awakened by her service dog barking, as at least one intruder had entered the house through a rear basement door, Bachmayer said.
The woman said she had heard male voices in her house.
The dog chased the man and whoever else might have been there out of the house, then led the woman to her phone, which she used to dial 911, Bachmayer said.
Someone had turned a stove on without a flame, and the house filled with gas, Bachmayer said. The dog led the woman out and she was not injured.
Detectives later arrested Tomayo McDuffy, 18, who lives on the block. He was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and related offenses.
Police are investigating whether others might have been involved, Bachmayer said.
~ Courtesy of Philly.com
Tags: dog interrupts burglary, guide dog, guide dog saves owner, service dog
