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Westminster Dog Show Canine Saves Owners' Lives In Hicksville Fire

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)-- Gordon and Julia Haight want their 3-year-old Shiba Inu "Tomi" to take best in breed at the prestigious 140th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show next week, but they already have a very good reason to celebrate him.

"He saved our lives," Gordon told CBS2's Brian Conybeare.

Back in October, their Hicksville Long Island home caught fire and was filling with smoke while they were sleeping. That's when Tomi ran upstairs and jumped on their bed.

"He lands next to me and he's shaking and he's thumping into my face and shoulder hard, so of course I wake up," Julia told CBS2. "Oh my god, the house is on fire get up get up get up!"

The smoke detectors inside the two-story home had not gone off yet. Five sleeping people, four dogs, three birds, some fish and a turtle could have easily perished.

"When there's a fire every second counts. The hallway was already filled with smoke," Julia recalled.

"God only knows what could have happened all we know is that everyone's okay because he's a hero," Gordon said.

The interior of the house was left with major smoke and water damage in the electrical fire and they had to move out. While Tomi is still getting used to all the reconstruction going on, Julia says he's ready for the biggest show of his career starting Monday.

"I'm very hopeful, he's a beautiful dog. He's in the best shape he's ever been in," Julia said.

The hero dog and his family will finally get to move back into their fire damaged home when renovations are complete later this month.

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