GLASSES were raised at McGinty's pub to toast the hero hound who helped save her owners from a serious house fire.Guinness was happy to join in the celebration by drinking a pint of her namesake while her owners were presented with goodies by the Irish pub last night.

By Victoria Knowles

GLASSES were raised at McGinty's pub to toast the hero hound who helped save her owners from a serious house fire.

Guinness was happy to join in the celebration by drinking a pint of her namesake while her owners were presented with goodies by the Irish pub last night.

The Evening Star reported yesterday how Guinness, an 11-month-old Dalmatian and German Shepherd cross, alerted the family to the fire which was started by arsonists in the back garden of their Elliot Street home at 4am yesterday.

Mark Collins, from McGinty's, said: "We got a telephone call asking if we would donate something and we were happy to – I just hope she is not under age!"

Dawn Allen and her daughter Carla, 15, were joined by Nick Guest who was also in the house at the time of the fire.

"She is just top of the list now. she has always been a loyal dog but she came in to her own on that occasion," said Dawn.

It was Guinness's persistent barking which alerted Dawn, 38, and her daughter Carla, 15, to the fire which broke out while they were asleep. Arsonists set fire to furniture in the back garden and the fire spread to the roof of the property and a neighbouring property.

Dawn yesterday told The Evening Star she was convinced Guinness had saved her life.

"If he hadn't kept barking I do not know what would have happened – we wouldn't have woken up. The fire service told us if we hadn't got out when we did the whole place would have gone up."