BUFFALO, N.Y. — The American Red Cross is honoring four Town of Tonawanda first responders for their heroic actions to save two family pets during a house fire last Memorial Day weekend.

Paramedics Diona Baumgartner and Ashley Hillock responded to the call and enlisted the help of police officers Kelly Wright and Angela Ragusa. Together, they carried a pitbull named Moose and a puppy named Brutus to safety and began administering oxygen through a pet mask.

“A life is a life and it’s precious and if a life is in danger then we have to do something about it,” said Ragusa, who can be seen splashing Brutus with water and rubbing his back while giving him oxygen in bodycam footage.

Their swift action saved the dogs’ lives. Moose was up and wagging his tail while still at the scene, but Brutus required care from a vet, which Baumgartner helped coordinate.

“I don’t think we could have done any better to be honest,” said Hillock. “I think that we do work really well together and I think we knew exactly what each other needed at the time and that’s why it worked so well.”

The four are the recipients of the 2022 Red Cross Real Hero Animal Rescue Award.