Dog alerts local family to fire, dies in blaze

Jeter, a five-year-old great pyrenees, is credited with saving the lives of his owners by alerting them to an early morning fire at their Harney Street home on Piqua’s west side on Thursday, June 11.

Submitted photo Jeter, a five-year-old great pyrenees, is credited with saving the lives of his owners by alerting them to an early morning fire at their Harney Street home on Piqua’s west side on Thursday, June 11.

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Family friend Deb Hickman comforts David Moss, as his mother Glenda Moss (back to camera) relates the story of her dog Jeter who alerted and saved them from their burning home (background) on Harney Dr. in Piqua this morning at 6 a.m.

Staff photo by Jim Witmer Family friend Deb Hickman comforts David Moss, as his mother Glenda Moss (back to camera) relates the story of her dog Jeter who alerted and saved them from their burning home (background) on Harney Dr. in Piqua this morning at 6 a.m.

By Nancy Bowman, Staff Writer Updated 1:44 AM Saturday, June 13, 2009

PIQUA — Glenda Moss saved Jeter after an early life of abuse.

Jeter paid her back Thursday, June 11.

The five-year-old Great Pyrenees is credited with saving the lives of Moss and her son David, 19, by alerting them to an early morning fire at their Harney Street home in Piqua.

Smelling smoke and hearing the crackle of fire, mother and son fled the house around 6 a.m. with Jeter following. For an unknown reason, the 120-pound dog went back into the house and perished.

Moss was sleeping in a recliner in the living room when Jeter, who usually slept in the bay window nearby, “was right up in my face, all over me,” she said. “I tried to shove him away, then I smelled the smoke.”

Moss ran down the hall to wake up David before they fled through the front door.

“For some reason, (Jeter) turned around and went back in the house,” Moss said.

She went back in briefly to find him. “I couldn’t see him. It was so smoky, I couldn’t find him, so I had to come back out.”

Named after New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, the dog had lived with the family for about three years.

Piqua firefighters said the blaze started in the garage and spread to the house, causing heavy damage to the structure and two cars — losses estimated at $90,000. The cause is under investigation.

“They got lucky,” Mike Rindler, assistant fire chief, said, because there were no smoke detectors in the house — other than Jeter.

Moss said Jeter came to the family from the humane society in Shelby County about three years ago. The wife of her boss, knowing the family had lost another Great Pyrenees to illness, brought him to Glenda.

“He’d had such a tough time. He’d been starved, beaten and abused,” Glenda Moss said, sobbing as friends and neighbors stopped by after hearing of the fire. “My dog was just amazing.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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