Firefighters went to great lengths to rescue some four-legged fire victims during a blaze in a Silver Spring Station Apartments building Sunday night.

While all 24 of the building's human residents escaped without harm, some pets were left behind.

At least two dogs and two cats were pulled from the building, said Fred Schillfarth, who was on the scene with the Central Alarmers, although one of the cats later died.

While working the fire, a Kingsville Volunteer Fire Company firefighter pulled a tan, curly-haired dog from the building.

"It was about two minutes later, the lady who owned the dog came up and she had tears running down her face," Schillfarth said. "I teared up myself. I'm a big dog lover."

A paramedic from the Baltimore County Fire Station 55 in Perry Hall administered oxygen to a black dog, which survived, and attempted to revive one of the cats, which died, Schillfarth said.

Schillfarth, who owns several rescued dogs, said the pet rescues offered hope to residents displaced by the fire.

"It was a good thing, considering how bad the situation was," he said.

What can pet owners do to protect their animals during an emergency? Tell us in the comments.