In a heart-touching tale of bravery, a family’s dog named Polo became a hero by saving their baby daughter, Vivianna, from a devastating house fire. One evening in Baltimore, Maryland, 8-month-old Vivianna was inside her home when it suddenly burst into flames. Her mother, Erika Poremski, had just stepped outside for a brief moment when she noticed the fire.
“I just heard her crying and I couldn’t get to her. I tried really hard, everyone in the neighborhood tried. They were kicking the doors in and kicking the windows out. I couldn’t (get her out). Nobody could.”
When the Baltimore City Fire Department arrived, both floors of the house were engulfed in flames. Despite the intense heat and danger, Erika told the firefighters that her baby and dog were still inside. Without hesitation, they rushed into the burning home. What they found was both heartbreaking and uplifting.
The firefighters discovered Polo lying on top of Vivianna, protecting her with his own body. The 6-year-old dog had shielded her from the smoke and heat, sacrificing his own life to save hers.
“She only had burns on her side because of it. He stayed with her the whole time in the bedroom and wouldn’t even come downstairs to get out the door. He was my first baby and now I lost him,” Poremski said through tears. “And I’m just praying I don’t lose her. She’s all I have and it just happened so fast, I just don’t understand it.”
Vivianna was placed in a medically induced coma while doctors treated the burns on one side of her body. Erika mourns the loss of their beloved Polo, who gave his life to save her daughter. While Vivianna is improving each day, she still has a long journey ahead to full recovery.
Shockingly, this is not the first time she has faced animal cruelty charges; she has a past conviction for similar crimes. We must ensure that no more animals suffer or die in her care!
If you’d like to support Vivianna’s medical expenses and help the family rebuild their home, you can contribute through their GoFundMe page.
The news footage from Erika and Vivianna’s tragic night is below. Polo was a true hero that night.
Toledo, United States.
