MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio (AP) — Several dozen animals have found
temporary shelter after Ohio firefighters rescued at least 60 pets from a
house fire in a Cincinnati suburb.
Authorities responding to the
Thursday morning fire found a menagerie of about a dozen snakes, 18
rats, a hedgehog, a chinchilla, birds, rabbits and others creatures.
Most of the animals survived the fire at the Mount Healthy home,
although at least one iguana and two cats died.
Pet owner Nikki
Hagaman, who volunteers at The Animal House pet store that also rescues
animals, was not at home when the fire broke out. She said she had at
least 77 pets.
"I can’t say no," she told The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Authorities
couldn’t say Friday the exact number of animals rescued but Harold
Dates of SPCA Cincinnati put the number at just over 60. He said the
animals were well cared for but a "little shaken up." He said they went
to rescue groups, volunteers or friends.
Hagaman told the media
she believes a heat bulb used to keep her reptiles warm may have started
the fire. Many of the rescued pets were taken to the pet store after
the fire.
Adam Charles and his wife of Colerain Township took in
almost three dozen animals, including ferrets, guinea pigs, and rats.
Charles told WCPO-TV that the animals were adjusting to their new
surroundings.
He said one of the rats has a broken back and the ferrets were coughing and sneezing
from inhaling too much smoke.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio (AP) — Several dozen animals have found
temporary shelter after Ohio firefighters rescued at least 60 pets from a
house fire in a Cincinnati suburb.
Authorities responding to the
Thursday morning fire found a menagerie of about a dozen snakes, 18
rats, a hedgehog, a chinchilla, birds, rabbits and others creatures.
Most of the animals survived the fire at the Mount Healthy home,
although at least one iguana and two cats died.
Pet owner Nikki
Hagaman, who volunteers at The Animal House pet store that also rescues
animals, was not at home when the fire broke out. She said she had at
least 77 pets.
"I can’t say no," she told The Cincinnati Enquirer.
Authorities
couldn’t say Friday the exact number of animals rescued but Harold
Dates of SPCA Cincinnati put the number at just over 60. He said the
animals were well cared for but a "little shaken up." He said they went
to rescue groups, volunteers or friends.
Hagaman told the media
she believes a heat bulb used to keep her reptiles warm may have started
the fire. Many of the rescued pets were taken to the pet store after
the fire.
Adam Charles and his wife of Colerain Township took in
almost three dozen animals, including ferrets, guinea pigs, and rats.
Charles told WCPO-TV that the animals were adjusting to their new
surroundings.
He said one of the rats has a broken back and the ferrets were coughing and sneezing
from inhaling too much smoke.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.