Many people have concerns when it comes to having a large dog around a small helpless baby. And those concerns go up about a thousand percent when those dogs happen to be pit bulls.

Pit bulls have a reputation, that’s mostly unearned, of being unpredictable and dangerous dogs with a Jekyll and Hyde mentality.

However, one mom has her pit bull to thank for saving both her and her baby’s lives.

Latana Chai, a mother, living in California, was recently the victim of a terrible tragedy.

While at home with her seven-month-old baby girl Masailah, the unthinkable happened.

Sasha, the family’s pit bull is eight months old and about the same size as Masailah.

On June 3, at around midnight, Latana suddenly heard Sasha barking very loudly and scratching at the backyard door.

She felt alarmed as she noticed the unusual intensity behind the dog’s barks.

Immediately, Latana knew something wasn’t right; this behavior was very atypical of their gentle four-legged family member.

According to Latana, her baby Masailah and Sasha were born just a few days apart, and the two spent every moment together, even sharing a bed and bath.

However, that special bond may have never been as strong as when a fire broke out in their neighbor’s home.

“I heard like, a loud bang and I was like, ‘what’s going on?’ I heard Sasha crying and she kept jumping at the door. As soon as I got to the door, she runs in and starts barking,” Latana said, according to Kare 11.

Latana opened the door to see what Sasha was barking at outside, that’s when she saw a large cloud of black smoke and flames pouring out of her neighbor’s home.

Even more alarming, the fire was quickly spreading to her house, writes KTVU.

What Sasha did next has made her a hero for animal lovers (especially pit bull lovers) all around the world.

Latana bolted upstairs for Masailah, but Sasha was already on her way to the child. Latana watched in amazement as the family pit bull gently bit into the baby’s diaper and dragged Masailah out of danger.

The family credits Sasha’s midnight warning barks for saving their lives.

The mother was able to get everyone safely outside, thanks to Sasha. Had it not been for the dog’s bravery, this story may have had a very different ending.

Here more about Sasha’s incredible story in the video below.