Early Tuesday morning, Bradenton resident Leroy Butler's home caught on fire around 2am at 15th East Street. Butler told WTSP: 'By the grace of God we all made it out,' Butler said. The fire didn't spare much. 'I took a look up at the ceiling, and the ceiling is engulfed in flames.

Butler had been living in the home for 18 years when flames began to form in the attic near the air conditioner. At the time, Butler, his father and his two young children, ages eight and 12, were inside the home. Butler told WTSP that the home's fire alarm sounded, but quickly failed. It was Zippy that began barking and didn't stop barking until the family was awake.

He was a part of the fire alarm, he was barking,' Butler said. 'We just made it out the door while everything was collapsing, with a big plume of black smoke fire was everywhere.Butler and his family made it out safely, but he couldn't get to Zippy when he tried to go back in for the little hero. We made it out just in time. It went "poom" and when I turn around, I'm making them run, and I go to get the dog,' he told ABC News.I just get all this black smoke and 'poom' - all in my mouth, and all in my face. I was like "ok, I gotta turn around. It's too hot and I gotta get out of here".

Butler told Fox 13 that Zippy's small body couldn't get past the large flames.He said: 'The floor in the living room was all on fire so there was nowhere for him to run out. Even if the smoke was this high. He was a short little dog. There was nowhere for him to go.' Zippy was adopted by Butlers father at the Humane Society of Manatee County for two children.

He was a good dog. He did his job, we rescued him, and I guess he returned the favor,' Butler told WTSP. Zippy was reportedly found after the fire hiding under a bed inside the home. Please watch and share video on Facebook.