An Iowa firefighter has a new best friend after adopting a 16-month-old Mastiff that he rescued from an apartment fire.
According to a post on the City of Des Moines official Facebook page, firefighter Malcolm Cortner first met the Mastiff, named George, when responding to an apartment fire last September.
What happened next changed his life.
A Life Saved, But Still On The Line
“As the fire was extinguished, firefighters located and rescued a large 16-month dog and began administering oxygen to him,” the Facebook post reads.
However, once the city’s Animal Control arrived on the scene, they explained to George’s human that the dog would require expensive treatment or need to be euthanized.
Once the Masatiff’s human decided on euthanasia because they couldn’t afford the treatment, Cortner paid for the treatments himself and adopted the thankful pooch.
“Congratulations to Fire Fighter Cortner who has a new best friend, George,” the post concludes. DogTime would also like to send our congratulations to Malcolm and George!
Per Des Moines’ KCII, George’s previous human “gave the dog over to Cortner,” and George “is now happy and healthy in his new home.”
Another Mastiff parent commented on the Facebook post and thanked Cortner for adopting George. He told the firefighter what he could expect:
“He will become the joy and light in your world, because their (sic) is nothing like the love of a Mastiff. I don’t know why, it’s just different.”
George May Just Repay The Favor
As we all know, dogs can be huge stress relievers. And with the high-level of stress and anxiety that comes with being a firefighter, George may just end up saving Cortner from some of the emotional toll his job surely takes.
It’s no wonder that more and more firehouses are welcoming dogs to help those brave men and women battle the mental rigors of the job.
Take for instance Colorado’s West Metro Fire, who incorporates therapy dogs to help their crew manage that stress.
“Years ago, we’d just put a lid on it and not deal with stuff,” the station’s Captain Norwood said. “We wouldn’t deal with the stresses, we wouldn’t deal with the anxiety. Now, we’re starting to throw all sort of tools out there for our firefighters to utilize.”
So in the end, George may thank his firefighter dad in the way dogs do best: by being a best friend for life!
Are you glad to see George in his new home with his firefighter dad? Do you think he’ll help his new human with the stress of the job? Let us know in the comments!
