ELYRIA, Ohio (WOIO) – Fifteen vastly underweight dogs suffering in deplorable conditions were rescued from an Elyria house one of them may have accidentally caught on fire.
The situation was discovered following the Hawthorne Street house fire on Sunday that left its owners and the animals homeless.
The Friendship Protective Animals League is sheltering the sick dogs.
One of the puppies died of smoke inhalation during the fire.
“They were definitely a little shook up from the situation, understandably,” Friendship APL Chief Humane Officer Vickie McDonald said of the traumatized dogs. “They were timid, shaking. As soon as they got here they were eager to get something to eat and settle into their cages.”
Investigators are still trying to confirm the exact cause of the fire, but it looks like the animals may be responsible.
“We believe the fire started in the area of the kitchen and perhaps one of the animals hit the knob on the stove turning the on,” Elyria Fire Chief Joe Pronesti says.
Pronesti warns people to not to break window in a house during a house fire as the extra oxygen only feeds the flames.
He is also suggesting that homeowners with large animals and children to purchase stove cover knobs to reduce the incidents of accidently turning on burners and starting a fire.
The two adults living in the house made it out okay.
While the pups still need medical care before they are healthy enough to be adopted, you can help the Friendship Animal Protective League by clicking here to donate.
Click here to see the current animals in Friendship APL’s care who are ready to find a forever home.
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