Hero pooch in Hopewell

I've been off for a couple of days, but I wanted to make sure you heard about Carmine, the 5-1/2-year-old puggle — a cross between a pug and a beagle.

He saved his family Feb. 28 by waking them up as their Hopewell Junction home filled with smoke.

Read my story in Friday's Poughkeepsie Journal.

The Josie Andaloro, her husband and her two children were all sleeping in the small living room which had a fireplace. The power had been out since Feb. 24 because of the massive snow storm, and somehow the fireplace got clogged and smoke was billowing out into the room.

My colleague photographer Lee Ferris and I went Josie Andaloro's house Thursday to talk about what Carmine did.

Here's a short clip of Andaloro talking about the ordeal while Ferris shoots a video.



Friendly little pooch and a very lucky family indeed.

Photo and video by Michael Woyton.