Family Thanks Employee for Saving Their Lives

Animal Control Officer Melissa Prettyman

What started out as a routine call for Animal Control Officer Melissa Prettyman ended in the rescue of a family and their dog from a garage fire in Southcrest. Now one family member says the acts of kindness will ‘forever have a great impact on my whole existence, I have a second chance with my family.’

Prettyman was driving out to a late night animal call last Thursday when she saw flames and turned her truck around to check it out. Fire had broken out at the garage of a residence and no rescue vehicles were in sight. She called 9-1-1 and then knocked on the home’s door until someone answered.    

Five people were inside; a four-generation family that included an 81-year-old great grandmother, a grandmother, her two adult children and a 6-year-old boy. The family had no idea fire had broken out on their property.

Prettyman made sure they were all evacuated and then carried the family’s big, 15-year-old dog in her arms to safety. Watch Officer Prettyman tell the story on County News Center

In a note of appreciation to Animal Services Director Dawn Danielson, the grandmother wrote “not only is my family alive and unharmed but we feel so blessed. She made sure each and every member of our family was out of the house and checked on us two additional times before leaving to go out to her original call. She truly is our Angel of Mercy!”

This isn’t the first time Prettyman has come to the rescue. Last June, she jumped into the ocean near Hospitality Point to save a poodle puppy before it could be carried out to sea.