Saturday, March 06, 1999

Poodle credited with alerting owner to fire

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BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor

Betty Lewingdon and her French poodle, Pierre. | ZOOM |

        HAMILTON TOWNSHIP — Vive Pierre le pooch!

        The tiny black French poodle is credited with saving its owner's life.

        Betty Lewingdon was asleep in her Hamilton Township camper in Warren County at about 8 a.m. Friday when an electrical fire started.

        Pierre barked and whined until she stirred. She grabbed him and fled.

        “With the flames right behind us,” she said.

        Fire crews are calling Pierre a hero. So is Mrs. Lewingdon's husband.

        “I knew he was special,” David Lewingdon said. “He saved the most important person in my life.”

        Mrs. Lewingdon, 51, and David, 36, have lived in the small trailer at the Cozy Dale campground on Cozaddale-Murdoch Road for about four years.

        The camper and its contents were destroyed. The couple has no insurance.

        The American Red Cross placed the Lewingdons in temporary housing. Pierre is staying with Mrs. Lewingdon's sister.

        “Everything got burned up except for my Bible,” Mrs. Lewingdon said.

        “I know that God had his hand on us. I think everybody should have a Pierre.”

       

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