
Tim Tawater was on his way to a party when he saw smoke pluming from a house and felt compelled to help. He ended up risking his life to save a dog that belonged to a family he never had met. He didn’t know it at the time, but someone was filming his heroic actions from across the street.
Tim, a veteran Nashville firefighter, was off-duty at the time, but he couldn’t just drive by and do nothing. “Most firemen are attracted to smoke,” Tawater told USA Today. “Honestly, it’s like a dog to a bone. We just can’t get away from it.”
He arrived at the home before the emergency responders did and went inside to check the home. He did not find any people inside, but when he came back out he noticed a large dog standing at the door. He approached the dog, but the pet ran back into the home.
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“If someone has a dog that big in the house, it means that dog is family,” Tawater said. He noticed that the dog, a bouvier des Flandres, weighed roughly 85 pounds. “I couldn’t do anything about the property, but I could save that dog. I thought it was worth a chance.”
Tawater went back into the burning home and was able to grab the dog and escape the home just as the roof collapsed behind him. When emergency responders arrived 15 minute later, Tawater had already left, prompting many to wonder just who was the heroic stranger who saved the family’s dog?
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Eventually, Tawater was tracked down and has met the family twice since the fire. The humble firefighter and dog savior said he would have rather no one knew it was him, before adding “Firefighters don’t do what we do for ourselves. We do it because we want to help others.”
Barbara N David Hood
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Michael Hood Lori N Chad Michalsky
Norma Roy Murphy
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Such a blessing this man was to this family!
J'Adore les Chiens
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(y)
Alan Straub
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wow…he is what a hero looks like.
Taryn Flanigan
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Way to go !!!!!!
Nancy Harris
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No greater love!
Kelly Muck
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U know the world would be a better place if there were more people acted like him!!
His got a great heart♥️
Juanita Carlton
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That’s a fireman’s instinct
Tracie Hendrixson
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A true hero!
Cheri Young-Power
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A hero.
Harriet SCicluna
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Hu was that basted and cruel .& thanks for that man who saved the dog
Loulou Perreault
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thank you sir you are a hero you save a beautiful dog
Karen Samuel
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He’s a hero everyday. Thank you.
Laurie Jonesazaria
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Now that is what you call a hero
Elfriede Ljubeljsek
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He was trained for that but I to beleave he is a hero
Sally Crawford
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Thank you
Mimi Love
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what an amazing man
Eileen Tyler
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WOW
Elisabeth Britton
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Thank you, Tim!
Kyle Loss
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Great man.
Angela James Searcy
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I know them, the dog was put to sleep last year. Behavior issues is what I heard. They never found one of the cats either. This happened in fall of 2014.
Kathie Wagner
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Wonderful firefighter….I have a lot of respect for them! Thank goodness he was there to save the dog.
Claudio Rivera
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No todos los herues usan capa
Connie Weisenberger
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AMAZING
Janice Parker
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A true hero!
Nise Hodder
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A true hero ….
Barbara Allen
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Amazing. What a brave man.
Lily Bloom
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Thank you to that man…so brave
Cookie Ginel
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This brought tears to my eyes…bless him Jehovah! I love him.
Lbrboxer.com
Deana Spearman
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THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
Edward Cohen
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A real hero in my eyes, way to go, sir
Lisa Morrison
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That true. My son a firefighter. One day we went somewhere and there was car accident. Told my son the firefighter and cops was not there yet . He automatically stop to help the people out there car. He always tell me it in his blood to be a firefighter. God bless the firefighters for put their lives in danger. That what a hero is.
Tammy Stone
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Brave hero, God Bless
Donald Hartsfield
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A true hero!!
Lee Ballantyne
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Tears.
Alicia Go Lemon
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That is awesome!!
Irene Reid
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This fireman was wonderful, and went with his instincts and saved this dog.
Beardmore Ann Cindy
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That was brave
Patrice McGrath
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Hero
Mireille De Hanovre Dutry
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Bravo to that man
Diane Christensen
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hero!
Vanessa Hill Swanseen
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I love this guy!!! Brave
Carol Diehl
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I love that man!!!!
Amira Amira Amira
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This man is a Hero ❤️❤️❤️❤️thank you God blessed you good hart.Thank you ,Big Respect
Carol Monaghan
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You are a beautiful sole
Irene Stahl
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Thank you for saving him. God bless you
Michelle Leyer
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I’m Sorry For My Fear , But I Would Try So Hard To Listen Look All Around For Dishes ,Bowls To Know There Is A Family Member In The Home …It Must Be Serendipity Or An Angle That Made This Wonderful Human Being To See And Have This Incredible Urge To Rescue…It’s In Their Heart And Soul To Do These Amazing Acts Of Humanity…Bless You For Your Love Of Life !
Jackie Blecher
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What service. Bless him.
Amie Micklus
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Good man… I’d choose my pups over a house any day.
Sally Atherton
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Brave man