9.Nero Saves His Family From Fire
On November 24, 2013, fire raged through the Eliseo home in Yorktown Heights, New York. The family’s Newfoundland, Nero, burst into action, waking up Maria Eliseo and her daughter Marie. Marie found her way out through the smoke, but Maria, who’d had hip replacement surgery just three weeks previously, retreated into a second-floor bedroom. She was rescued with a ladder by her neighbors Brian Avery and Robert Cole.
The dog’s heroism came without a moment to spare. Marie Eliseo said, “If it weren’t for Nero,I would not have gotten out in time.”
The family initially believed that Nero had escaped the blaze and asked their Westchester County community for help tracking him down. Later, though, his body was found in the ashes of the home, along with three other dogs. The Eliseos were crushed. Giulio Eliseo said, “You have no idea,I feel like i lost a son. Without him, I would have lost my wife and daughter in the fire.”
Shortly after Nero’s death, the family adopted Faith, a Newfoundland puppy.
