Woman performs mouth-to-mouth to save beloved beagle trapped in house fire

t took only three breaths from a loving pet owner to bring her miniature beagle back to life after being in a house fire.

Marley, the four-year-old beagle, was stuck in a bathroom with Gizzy, a male cat, a kitten and two turtles Feb. 25 when Andy Amezcua and Sheana Reed-Amezcua’s home caught fire.

“Marley was completely limp in my arms,” Sheana said.

Sheana has had the dog since it was a puppy when she received Marley as a birthday gift.

“She was our first baby,” Sheana said.

Sheana and Andy were at a local gym when a neighbor began calling to tell them that the apartment they rented was on fire. Sheana headed to her mother’s house in Sedalia to pick up her son, Ty, 3, when her neighbor’s daughter sent Sheana’s sister a text message telling her about the fire.

Sheana and Andy rushed to 23677 Highway MM to find their home in flames.

Pettis County firefighters did not know that inside the bathroom were the family’s pets.

“I wasn’t concerned about anything else but getting them out of there,” Sheana said. “I was ready to go in after my animals.”

A volunteer, female firefighter listened to Sheana’s cries and entered the home to rescue their pets.

Gizzy was the first one out and he was lifeless. Gizzy was taken to a nearby ambulance and put on oxygen.

When Marley came out, Sheana grabbed her dog and began to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She held Marley’s snout with one hand and felt her lungs with the other.

“I had black soot all over me,” Sheana said.

It took Gizzy three days to recover from the fire. Sheana had to feed him with a syringe.

“I was not going to let him die,” Sheana said.

The kitten Sheana rescued last winter died in the fire, but the two turtles survived.

Sheana and Andy volunteer for many local organizations and they never thought they would be looking for help from groups they work with.

“We always try to help other people,” Andy said. “It’s humbling.”

The family has received many items and donations from the American Red Cross, Jobs Daughters, the Salvation Army and other community organizations.

The family is still in need of simple items such as clothing, bedding and towels.

“Even something as simple as clothes hangers,” Andy said.

Andy and Sheana later learned the fire was started by a wall furnace. They laugh about Sheana’s life-saving skills she learned from Animal Planet and are currently living with Sheana’s mother.

The couple said their pets are more affectionate now than they have ever been.

“You just never know how much you love your animals until you are put in a situation like this,” Sheana said.

People wanting to help the family can contact the American Red Cross, 112 W. Fourth St. or call 827-0618.