A shelter dog is being praised for saving a Virginia family’s life by alerting them to a raging inferno on their houseboat as they slept. 

Sheila Janes, husband Christopher Cushna and their three children were fostering the Great Pyrenees, ‘Moose’, for the weekend when a fire broke out on an adjoining boat at the Tidewater Yacht Marina in Portsmouth on Saturday night.

The flames quickly spread to their houseboat, ultimately destroying it – but Moose helped them escape the blaze uninjured.

‘If Moose was not there, at the very least, it would have been an emergency evacuation,’ Christopher told WTKR, hinting that the stray dog may have helped save their lives.

Moose was able to wake the dad-of-three and his daughter Anya, prompting them to see smoke rising from the boat next door.

Shelter dog Moose was already a big hit with a family-of-five – and then he saved their lives

The adorable pooch (pictured) woke up dad Christopher as a fire raged in the marina

Their houseboat was destroyed, with the family losing all of the personal belongings

Mum Sheila (left), dad Christopher (right) and their kids helped Moose find a forever home

‘I could have seen us having to dive into the waters. It would have surprised us. What Moose was able to do was eliminate the surprise.’

The pair moved quickly to wake up the others and everyone was able to safely get onto shore without any injuries.

‘We had to actually go past the boat that was burning and it was a really big inferno, it was amazing. It was hot. It was very hot,’ he said.

Multiple boats were destroyed in the blaze, including Sheila and Christopher’s home. A fundraising page has been set up to help them get back on their feet.

As they look ahead to rebuilding, the couple, who run Olde Town Arts and Music in Portsmouth, say they’re grateful Moose was in their care.

The family had taken the pooch out as part of the ‘Paws Around Portsmouth’ program which allows keen animal lovers to “check out” a rescue dog for a few hours or days.

‘We needed a fun thing for the kids to do in these dog days of summer, and checking out a dog for the day seemed perfect,’ Sheila told MailOnline.

‘We got a backpack with some supplies and they let us know Moose’s curfew was 4pm, so he could be back in time for dinner.

This is the moment the family escaped the boat and made it to shore safely

The three kids had a great time with Moose and are happy he’s in his new home

Smoke was seen billowing from the marina early morning on Sunday

‘We had barely pulled away from the parking lot and the kids were campaigning for him to stay the whole weekend.

‘Everyone knew we couldn’t adopt him since we were traveling soon and living on a boat, but we could offer him a fun weekend get away and show him off around town in hopes that he would be adopted.’

While out for the day, they found someone who was keen to take him in – but they needed a bit more time.

‘It was at the Antique and Flea Market that Emma first saw Moose. She fell in love, and wondered if he would get along with her dog Harley.

‘I suggested she go home and get Harley and bring him to our music shop, Olde Towne Arts & Music and she did.

‘The dogs got along great, and we started making plans to make the switch with the Humane Society the following day, so the kids knew Moosie would have one last night with us before going to his new home.’

It was that night Moose got to prove himself as a hero after the fire began.

‘What I like to think about is that we saved Moose from the situation that Moose was in and Moose definitely saved us on the boat,’ Christopher said.

On Sunday, just a few hours after the fire, Moose went to his forever home – but he still has a brother that is need of a new owner through the Portsmouth Humane Society.

Sheila added: ‘The whole ordeal just reminds us what is important in life.

‘I hope people consider adopting a dog from their local pound – it could be a lifesaving experience – it certainly was for us.’