A quiet afternoon in Mobile’s Jackson Heights turned into a full-blown rescue scene last month.
Smoke poured from a one-story home while Miss Greta, a black lab, was trapped inside.
She had no way out—until a passing neighbor noticed something didn’t look right.
The woman, who asked to stay anonymous, was simply heading to pick up her kids from school.
But a blackened kitchen window and faint cries from inside made her stop in her tracks.
Thinking children might be inside, she sprang into action, pounding on windows, calling 9-1-1, grabbing the garden hose, and kicking at the door.
Smoke gushed out, but it was too thick to enter. Still, help was on the way.
Strangers Stepped In
She wasn’t alone for long.
An AT&T worker nearby jumped in, taking control of the hose and joining the search for what they hoped were just scared pets—no children had been home, thankfully.
The neighbor shouted for Greta by name.
Fire crews had now arrived and were searching the smoke-filled rooms. It wasn’t easy—Greta’s black coat made her hard to spot.
But then a firefighter felt a shape on the floor. It was Greta. She wasn’t moving.
Outside, fire medics wasted no time.
Breath by Breath
As oxygen flowed through the mask, the neighbor didn’t leave Greta’s side. She prayed and waited, refusing to give up on the dog. More than ten long minutes passed.
Then—finally—a tail wag.
Then another.
Greta’s eyes opened. A few seconds later, her breathing picked up, and her body relaxed. She was going to make it.
By the time her owner arrived, Miss Greta was well enough to recognize the voice she knew best. Her tail thumped harder. The reunion was emotional, but short—Greta still needed a vet.
Quick Action Made the Difference
Mobile Fire-Rescue said Greta’s survival came down to one thing: quick thinking.
That includes the neighbor who made the call, the stranger who pitched in, and the 9-1-1 dispatcher who got the right teams in motion fast.
Every second mattered.
Jeff Haller, the department’s spokesperson, reminded folks that if something seems off—like smoke where it shouldn’t be—don’t hesitate to call.
Even if you’re unsure. It’s better to be safe, and calls like this can save lives.
He also gave a nod to the unseen heroes: the dispatchers.
That week happened to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, a time to honor the voices behind the scenes that make quick response possible.
The Aftermath
The house suffered heavy smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire hasn’t been released yet.
But what mattered most that day was that no lives—human or animal—were lost.
Miss Greta’s comeback reminded everyone of something simple: acting fast can make all the difference. Even on an ordinary school pickup run.
If you’d like to check out other news stories, hop over to our news corner.
