posted November 13, 2004 03:15 AM         

Joseph Favre and Gizmo have a love-hate relationship, which Favre concedes has been improved by the animal's saving his life.

By CHRIS TISCH, Times Staff Writer
Published November 10, 2004
Times photos: Carrie Pratt

Joseph Favre, holds Gizmo, his fiancee's 8-year-old poodle/Maltese mix, that saved his life by jumping on his chest and scratching him. Favre says the dog is due a steak dinner. Behind Favre is his daughter, Amber Lynn, 4. She was not home when their Largo mobile home caught fire.

Bill Miller, a fire investigator with Largo Fire and Rescue, looks through the remains of the mobile home in the Westgate Mobile Home Park off Belcher Road that was gutted by a fire that broke out Tuesday in the kitchen.
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LARGO - The first time the dog jumped on his chest Tuesday, Joseph Favre tossed the tiny pooch across the room and went back to sleep.

But Gizmo would not give up. He jumped on Favre's chest again, barking and scratching at his face. Favre cocked his arm for another toss, then inhaled a noseful of smoke.

His mobile home was on fire, the kitchen engulfed in flames and smoke thickening across the living room ceiling.

With Gizmo at his feet, Favre made for the door, dashed outside and called 911. Within seconds, his Largo mobile home was awash in fire. The blaze gutted the home and destroyed everything inside.

But Favre, who said he's a heavy sleeper, felt lucky to be alive Tuesday afternoon and had Gizmo to thank for that.

"This is my hero right here," Favre, 28, said of the mix. "If the dog wouldn't have woken me up, I would have been crisp."

Favre and Gizmo have not, over the years, exactly been fast friends.

Gizmo belongs to Favre's fiancee, Wendy Smith, who shares the mobile home off Belcher Road with him, the dog and their three children.

Gizmo and Favre got along fine when he and Smith first started dating. But Favre thought the dog had too-frequent accidents in the house. He also trained the dog to be protective of Smith and the kids.

The result was a love-hate relationship between man and dog. Though Gizmo sleeps with Favre, he also frequently growls at him and even bites. In fact, Gizmo, who is about 8 years old, only has three teeth left in his mouth. The rest have come out from biting Favre.

"They've all been imprinted in my hand," he said. "He hates me, but we have an unconditional love."

As a result, Gizmo, who weighs just 3 pounds, is especially brave and lively. He stands up to cars on the road. He barks like crazy when anyone knocks on the door. And he snarls if anyone comes near Smith or the kids.

With a day off work Tuesday, Favre, who lays fiber-optic line for a living, decided to take a snooze on the sofa. He was the only person home at the time.

He said Gizmo normally stays away from his face, but persistently jumped on him Tuesday after the fire started.

"It was like he was talking to me," said Favre, who claims Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre as his third cousin.

When he woke and smelled the smoke, Favre said he bounded off the couch and ran for the door, accidentally stepping on Gizmo on the way out, causing the dog to squeal. They both emerged safe, though Gizmo's snow-white coat was colored a smoky gray.

Investigators said they still were trying to find the cause of the fire Tuesday afternoon, but confirmed it started in the kitchen.

Favre said the Fire Department was on the scene quickly, but flames had already gutted the home.

The American Red Cross was assisting Favre and his family with a place to stay and supplies. Though all his possessions were destroyed, Favre said he feels grateful to be alive.

"This dog, he's going to get a filet mignon tonight," Favre said as he stroked Gizmo outside the burned home Tuesday afternoon. As usual, the dog growled at him. Favre looked at the dog's mouth and added, "He's only got three teeth left. I'm going to have to blend it."