Dogs are known to be one of the most faithful creatures on the planet, but a collie named Lassie died living up to it. The canine is credited with saving her owners' life by timely waking them up and alerting them that their house was on fire.

Robert and Elsie Whitson were sound asleep in their home Wednesday morning when the fire broke out. Lassie tried getting their attention by licking and nibbling at their hands, the couple's daughter Judi Thompson told reporters.

Lassie finally got Whitsons' to open their eyes and the couple made a timely escape.

"They thought Lassie was out, but she wasn't," Naomia L. Gooding, another daughter of the couple, told the Associated Press. "They loved this dog, and she was a wonderful dog."

Anderson Fire Department Battalion Chief Larry Towne said the remains of the dog were found underneath the rubble of of the roof, which collapsed from the fire.

Robert Whitson, 81, suffered first-degree burns to his shoulders, back and part of his head and his 80-year-old wife complained of chest pains at the scene. Both were treated at a hospital and released.

A preliminary investigation revealed the fire was likely caused by a space heater in a family room in front of the house, he said.