Detroit firefighters rescue 22 dogs – mostly puppies – from burning house

Detroit firefighters rescued 22 pit bulls – mostly puppies – and a Guinea pig from a burning east-side home on Monday.

It wasn’t easy.

Firefighters were called to a fire inside a small brick house at 214 W. Hollywood near John R. and 7 Mile at 8:10 a.m.

The fire was inside the duct work in the basement, where the animals had been confined. The room was so smokey that firefighters initially spotted just one litter of puppies. But as they hosed down the fire, more cowering puppies became visible.

Firefighters scooped up the animals and carried them to the front lawn, where they were treated and wrapped in blankets.

The owner, who is a breeder, was upstairs when the fire broke out and was able to get some of his adult dogs out of the house before firefighters arrived.

Detroit Fire Executive Commissioner Edsel Jenkins told me the city alerted the Human Society.

A city ordinance limits the number of dogs per household to four.

  animals, Dogs, Firefighters, guinea pig, pets, Rescue, W. Hollywood

Steve Neavling

Steve Neavling lives and works in Detroit as an investigative journalist. His stories have uncovered corruption, led to arrests and reforms and prompted FBI investigations.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•