RAVENNA, Ohio (AP) -- A basement fire at Rita Hrivnak's house was quickly contained. The concern now is whether she should continue to live with the hundreds of animals found in the house.
Hrivnak, 67, said she didn't know how many animals were in her Ravenna Township home in northeast Ohio, about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland.
Portage County's humane officer, Rusty Trautman, said there were about 170 rabbits and a dozen cockatiels in Hrivnak's basement, plus another 40 to 50 rabbits in the dining room. He said more than 100 ducks and chickens are housed in the attached garage and four dogs in the house.
Trautman said 14 rabbits and four cockatiels died because of the fire Wednesday.
Hrivnak said she prefers to keep her animals indoors because of wild animals near her property.
She also runs a kennel in a mobile home near the house. The 30 dogs and 10 cats living there were unharmed, Trautman said.
``I feel bad,'' he said. ``She feels like she's done nothing wrong. She feels like she's helping the animals. But if you see the living conditions, she's not.''
Trautman said his department is working with Hrivnak to find homes for her animals.
