Meet the dog that saved her family from a devastating fire!

Lauren Fogle’s family had moved in with her folks so that they could save up for their own house. And it was a good thing—because it was just in time for their dog to save everyone’s lives!

That’s the last box,” Josh Fogle told his wife, Lauren, as the Shidler, Oklahoma, couple moved back in with her parents to save money for a down payment on a house.

“It’s going to be great having you here!” his father-inlaw, Mark Scott, smiled as Lauren’s girls, four-year-old twins Lacey and Leonna, and their border collie, Alice, ran through the backyard.

“You’re just happy Alice is back, Dad,” Lauren winked.

“Fair enough,” her stepmom, Rebecca, chuckled.

‘Everybody get out! There’s a fire!’ Josh cried “Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.” Dean Koontz

Years earlier, away at college, Lauren wasn’t supposed to have a dog. But one day in front of a Walmart, she spotted a woman with a box of puppies. And when one of the pups wriggled over to her, Lauren fell instantly in love.

She named the pup Alice and hid her in her dorm room closet, sneaking her out for walks, until she could bring her home.

“She needed someone,” Lauren shrugged to Mark and Rebecca, who agreed that Alice could stay with them while Lauren was at school. And soon, they too were enchanted by the playful ball of fur, even installing a pet door so the pup could race in and outside.

Now, two evenings after the family had settled back in, the twins skipped to their bedroom, Alice following like a shadow. Lauren and her parents turned in a little while later. It was around midnight when Josh—watch-

ing TV after a late shift at work—heard Alice barking.

She must’ve gone out through the doggie door, he thought. Their yard was fenced-in and safe, but . . . I hope it’s not a raccoon! “That’s enough!” he called through the window— but Alice continued barking, her yips becoming increasingly more frantic. Why isn’t my dad listening to me? Something’s wrong! Alice thought, not stopping.

“What’s up?” Josh asked, slipping out the patio door, as the pup dashed up, let out a sharp bark, then sprinted to the far end of the house. You have to come

right now! her insistent barks seemed to be saying. So Josh followed her— and when he glanced up, he spotted an orange glow in the window of the attached garage!

“Oh, my God!” Josh gasped, and dashed back inside.

“Everybody get out! There’s a fire!” he screamed.

As his wife and in-laws emerged from bedrooms, he scrambled into his daughters’ room. And grabbing Lacey and Leonna by the hand, he led the group down the hallway and through the den, echoing with popping and crackling as it began to fill with dark smoke.

Once everyone was safely outside, Alice greeted them with kisses, tail wagging. Thank goodness you’re okay. I love you all so much! her wide eyes seemed to say.

While Lauren called 911, Alice paced back and forth, stopping the girls from wandering. Josh tried to douse the flames with a garden hose, but firefighters soon arrived and extinguished the blaze.

“You’re lucky you had smoke detectors. That fire burned so hot and fast, another few minutes and I don’t know . . . ” But the smoke detectors hadn’t gone off! Investigators determined the fire had melted them! “Alice was our smoke detector!” Lauren cried, hugging their furry hero. Today, the Scotts have rebuilt their home, and Lauren, Josh and the girls are settled into their own new house, where Alice still keeps a watchful eye over the family she loves.

“Thank God for Alice!” Lauren beams. “She was always my first baby. Now she’s our hero, too!”