PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) -- A 6-year-old border collie died in a house fire after waking up his owner out of a deep sleep to warn her of the blaze.

Marilyn Harvey and her son, Brent, rushed out the basement door, but Sandler turned back. Marilyn's husband, John Harvey, who was in Seattle at the time of the fire, thinks it was because Sandler wanted to save the family's 17-year-old Australian shepherd, who was still inside the house.

Both dogs died in last Friday's fire, along with a bird named Kellogg. A cat named Raja escaped unharmed.

Investigators believe a candle left burning in the family room of the two-story house started the fire, which destroyed the house.

The only salvageable items were found in the garage under the Christmas tree.

John Harvey said his family will always be grateful to Sandler. "We're a little devastated now, but I think tomorrow will be better," he said. "It makes the holidays a little more valuable."