Rabbit that woke owner of burning house dies

[September 15, 2011]  KETCHIKAN, Alaska (AP) -- Fire officials in Alaska say a pet rabbit woke its owner when the house was on fire, allowing the woman to get herself and her daughter safely out of the burning building. But the rabbit ended up dying from smoke inhalation.

The woman was awakened early Tuesday by the rabbit scratching her chest, and she saw the house was full of smoke.

She rushed to get her daughter out of the home, but the rabbit was left behind in the confusion.

Ketchikan Fire Capt. Tracy Mettler tells the Ketchikan Daily News (http://bit.ly/o3T8Sb) pets often find their own way out of a burning building but not this time.

The fire's cause is under investigation. The fire department wouldn't identify the home's two residents.

[Associated Press]

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