What's true is that the dog's family's house was on fire. The family was rescued...the dogs found their own way out of the house. That particular fireman had had nothing in particular to do with the dogs....she just walked up to him and licked his face and a local reporter caught the shot.
Still a very touching story and I like to think she was thanking him for saving her family. Too bad people have to make up stuff to try and make it "better"....