Hank the dog saves his family from a massive fire in their garden

(Picture:USCoksman)

Dogs bark as a way of communicating, whether that’s because they’re unhappy, want to go for walks, or if there is an immediate or looming danger.

One family couldn’t figure out why their dog Hank kept barking up a storm one night when they went to bed.

Twitter user Ulysses S. Cocksman told the story of how Hank had actually saved his family’s life by alerting them to a blazing fire in their backyard.

The dad explained on Twitter how his wife and kids were asleep and he was up watching a film one night when the excessive barking began.

After getting up to see what was going on with the family pet, the dad realised that their entire garden was up in flames and immediately woke up his family and rang up his neighbours to get out.

The dad, and rest of Twitter, commended Hank for his incredible rescue efforts.

Let’s hope Hank knows who’s a good boy.

Hank the dog wakes his family up to alert them of a fire https://twitter.com/USCocksman
(Picture/USCoksman)

Ulysses started the story by sharing a picture of the family pet from six years ago, when he was just a little pup eating his mum owner’s trainers.

Within a few hours of reminiscing about the time Hank ate the Vans, the family went to bed. Around midnight though, Hank started barking incessantly.

‘At midnight last night, Hank started barking from the living room,’ wrote the dad. ‘My wife and kids were asleep, I was finishing up a movie in another room. Hank would not shut up.

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‘So I dragged myself off the couch and went out to the living room to make him stop. As soon as I came around the corner, I saw that the entire yard was glowing orange.

‘The very large wooden work shed full of gasoline, paint, and God knows what else was blazing. The oaks were on fire. Flaming leaves and embers were blowing everywhere.’

Ulysses explained how the fire spread to his neighbour’s garden where their shed went up in flames within seconds. But he called the emergency services and his neighbours who were able to get out with their kids and dog.

‘The fire spread to the back of our house the same minute the firefighters got the hoses to it. A minute or two more, and it was gone. Instead, everyone is safe, and we still have a house. It’s black and crispy on one side, but it’s totally intact.’

So Hank. That dog.

— Ulysses S. Cocksman (@USCocksman)

He ended the thread saying Hank could now eat all the shoes and steak he wants in the world as he saved so many lives and homes.

The family even said they’ll never get mad at him for barking ever again.

While everyone virtually patted Hank on the back for his rescue, some stressed the importance of having smoke detectors in your homes.

Get Your Dog Microchipped For a Permanent Identifier. A scan of your dogs microchip will give all of your personal information to help with a speedy reunion, just remember to update your information with the microchip company if you move. (microchips are also one of the ways a court can make a decision regarding ownership of a dog, if it ever came to that)

Especially as most of us don’t have a Hank at home.