StrangePet Rabbit Alerts Family to FirePet Rabbit Alerts Family to FireThe Associated PressA pet rabbit is credited with saving a couple from a raging fire that swept through their home in the southern Australian city of Melbourne early Thursday. (July 25)[Notes:opens with SOT:] "our little fuzzy hero at the moment." [Notes:ANCHOR VOICE][Notes:finn holding rabbit, pan to fire damage] Michelle Finn holds her pet rabbit "Rabbit" -- just a few feet away, the burned out remnants of part of her home.Finn says Rabbit woke her and her husband up, saving them from the flames.SOT: Michelle Finn, Rabbit Owner: "he can make a lot of noise, which is good." [Notes:finn holding rabbit]Rabbit scratched at the bedroom door waking Finn's husband, giving the couple time to get out of the house and call the fire department. [Notes:fire truck]As you'd suspect -- firefighters say this might be a first.SOT: Nick Beagley, Metropolitan Fire Brigade: "i've got to say, this is the first time that I've ever heard of a rabbit bringing a fire to somebody's attention." [Notes:various of fire damage]Finn says sure, there's damage to the house, but thanks to Finn, everyone is safe.SOT: Finn: "i mean, we've lost probably a lot of the important stuff, like personal photos and all of that sort of gear, but we're here."The cause of the fire remains under investigation. ___ ___, The Associated Press Author: AssociatedPress Keywords: australia rabbit pet alerts family fire Added: July 26, 2008
