The heroic pitbull who saved a baby trapped in a burning house in Michigan

By Rachael Paula Abrahamson -

A pit bull mix named Blue is hailed as a hero after he ran into a burning Detroit, Michigan house to save an endangered baby girl.

Last month, Janet Kelly and her boyfriend, DaQuan Davis, had been out shopping for groceries when they received an alarming call.

It was Demetrius, Davis's brother, who was babysitting the couple's children, Isabella, 4, and Shantel, 14 months.

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"He told us, 'The house is burning, they have to come,'" Kelly, 40, said.

"My heart stopped."

Blue, a pit bull mix, led firefighters toward 14-month-old Shantel Davis.Sarahbeth Maney/Detroit Free Press via Zuma Press

22 minutes of terror

The rental house was engulfed in flames when Kelly and Davis arrived.

Kelly said the fire started in an apartment below hers.

Kelly's daughters, Zoey, 9, and Chloe, 7, were in the backseat of their car and began to cry because they thought their little sisters would not make it out alive.

"They thought Isabella and Shantel were dead

," Kelly commented.

After 22 minutes of terror, Kelly and Davis, 27, learned that Isabella and Shantel had escaped with their lives.

Kelly broke down in tears.

"I have never felt so relieved," she said.

"My babies are fine."

And Kelly partly thanks Blue.

Janet Kelly , a mother of four girls, and her boyfriend, DaQuan Davis, lost all their belongings in the fire on February 21, 2023.Sarahbeth Maney / Detroit Free Press via Zuma Press

The dog led the fire brigade

"Demetrius was able to get Isabella out, but Shantel got caught in her playpen. Things were falling," Kelly said.

"Blue followed Demetrius outside and then ran back inside to find Shantel. He was protecting her at all costs."

According to Kelly, Blue told the fire department where Shantel was.

"Blue circled around her and barked," he said, "and didn't go away until they got the girl out."

Blue is getting extra tummy cuddles at the Airbnb that was offered to the family for free during the month of March.

But, according to Kelly, they have nowhere to go after the 1st.

of April.

She and Davis operate a landscaping company.

The fire destroyed all their equipment.

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"I was a single mom when I moved into this house and I could barely pay my expenses," Kelly confessed.

"It was irresponsible of me [to not have insurance]. I never thought something like this could happen to me."

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"We lost everything"

After the fire, Kelly, Davis, the four girls, and Blue spent six nights sleeping in a van.

Kelly confessed that she is terrified of having to do it again, so she created a GoFundMe to raise help.

"We still have to find a house and buy clothes. We lost everything," he said.

"I worked so hard to have my own company and now I'm looking for jobs at fast food restaurants."

Zoey, the eldest daughter, is taking the brunt of it.

Janet Kelly and her sisters have been living through March in an Airbnb without paying, but have nowhere to go after April 1.Sarahbeth Maney/Detroit Free Press via Zuma Press

"DaQuan gave her a dollar. She came to me and said, 'I want you to have it. I know we don't have any money,'" Kelly recounted.

"She broke my heart. She's only 9 years old."

As far as Blue is concerned, he grunts when he sees a candle or someone lights a cigar.

"He's a very sweet dog," Kelly said.

"Pit bulls have a reputation for being aggressive. But I think it has to do with the way they're raised. Dogs aren't born with a desire to bite people. Blue will bark at strangers, but once she meets you, she everything is fine, he lies on his back to receive affection on his belly".