fAMILY POOCH lEO RISKED his life to save a litter of newborn kittens from flames engulfing a house and was hailed as a hero by Australian fire brigade.
A women and her three children, and the family's other dog, managed to escape, but Leo would not flee the fire and was found not breathing next to the kittens.
"One officer returned into the blazing house and re-emerged carrying the near- lifeless Leo."
"Another couple of firefighters grabbed the resuscitation equipment and were able to revive him. The dog had remained stoically guarding the box of kittens, even though their mother had disappeared."
The four kittens also survived the fire and Leo, who fire fighters have nicknamed "Smoky", is now back at the house