When Officer Michael Ely arrived at a home that caught fire in Aurora, Illinois, he began searching for anyone who might still be inside. He was about to declare that the house was empty … until he saw a leash hanging in the kitchen.

He immediately began searching the house for the pup, Oakley, and found him behind a doggy gate in the bedroom. Officer Ely took down the gate and tried to grab him. Instead, Oakley took off running down the hallway.

Officer Ely was frustrated, unsure of where Oakley was going. The pup looked back to make sure the officer was following him, then swiftly led him to the kitchen. He stopped directly under his leash and patiently waited for Officer Ely to catch on.

“You’re a good boy,” Officer Ely said to Oakley in a video of the rescue.

Oakley knew they needed to get out of the house. He also knew that he couldn’t leave the house without his leash. He did what needed to be done as quickly as he could, and Officer Ely was immediately touched by the sweet dog and his bravery.

“He was surprised but happy that the dog was so well trained,” the Aurora Police Department told The Dodo. “It definitely made it easier to get the dog to safety when Oakley basically walked himself out!”

With Oakley all leashed up, the pair quickly left the house and headed outside. The department contacted Oakley’s family to let them know that he was OK, and they couldn’t have been happier to know their beloved pup was safe.

The family told the Aurora Police Department how they’d adopted Oakley as a puppy from Players for Pits four years earlier. He loves snuggling, snoring, sunbathing and eating peanut butter. He’s so loved, and his family will be forever grateful to Officer Ely and everyone else who was involved in saving his life.

Oakley and his family are now in temporary housing while their home gets cleaned up. While everyone is a little shaken up, they’re all safe, including Oakley, and that’s what truly matters.