Michelle Mills with her chihuahuas Queen and Rowdy were relaxing in their little Bullard, New York, mobile home, early in May of 2010. Mills had done some laundry then took a nap.

Unexpectedly her two dogs were barking like crazy to wake her up. "There was smoke all around me," she reported. Thanks to her trusty canines, her life was saved. She rushed out of the home with the two dogs under her arms. She ran back into the blaze to save the guinea pigs. Several rounds of amunition were exploding in the heat.

Michelle and the dogs were fine, but the guinea pigs later succumbed to smoke inhalation.l Things could've been so much worse. "I love my dogs," said Mills. "They're my heroes."