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“I was doing what any dog what would have done in that situation,” said Kenai, the 14-year-old Bernese mountain dog. “You just have to trust your instincts in that situation and let your adrenaline take over.”

OK, so maybe those were not Kenai’s words, but we are fairly certain that is what the dog would have said if actual words replaced her incomprehensible barking. After all, she looks humble.

Saved by a whimper

Kenai and her owners, Todd Smarr and Michelle Sewald, live in Erie but went for a weekend getaway at their friend’s home in New Castle, on the Western Slope. 

At 4 a.m. last Sunday, Kenai woke up Todd, who realized something was wrong, which set off a chain of events that resulted in the lives of nine people and four dogs being saved from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

“Michelle and I were sleeping in the bedroom of the basement and Kenai was sleeping in the common area on the same floor,” said Todd. “I heard her whimpering through the door. I’m pretty tuned to her sounds so I knew something was up. Karen (the couple’s friend) and Michelle ended up passing out in the basement and I ran upstairs to wake the others. I don’t want to think what would have happened without her (Kenai).”

After the initial confusion of the situation, the group quickly got online to research some of the symptoms and discovered they were synonymous with carbon monoxide poisoning. By 5:30 a.m., they were at the hospital seeking help and had called the fire department to investigate. 

Investigators said the source of the carbon monoxide was the kitchen stove, a “normal range top,” according to Todd. The group had used the stove Saturday night to make pizza but nothing was out of the ordinary.

Carbon monoxide detector bill

The Lofgren and Johnson Families Carbon Monoxide Safety Act, House Bill 1091, which will require homes built or put up for sale after July 1 to have carbon monoxide detectors, has passed both the House and Senate and is sitting on Gov. Bill Ritter’s desk. Ritter has said he will sign the bill. 

There have been five carbon monoxide poisoning deaths in Colorado since late 2008. The gas can cause flu-like symptoms including nausea, vomiting and disorientation.

“You have to get detectors,” said Michelle. Todd agreed, and added, “This is something that can be overlooked. Hopefully this experience will get others to do something about it. When most people experience it (carbon monoxide poisoning), most people don’t wake up.”

Golden paw

Kenai was the star of yesterday’s press conference, at which she received the “Golden Paw Award” from the American Humane Association. The AHA is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting children and animals.

“We have a hero among us today,” said AHA’s chief operating officer Dick Austin. “This award celebrates the importance of the connection between animals and humans, and we give it during the times that an animal does extraordinary things.”

This article might be written in a completely different tone if Kenai had not woken up the people in that New Castle home. But because she did, they are here to tell their story and alert others who might not have considered installing a carbon monoxide detector.

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