S.C. Firefighters Save Eight Puppies From Home Fire

Oct. 08--RIDGEWAY -- Volunteer firefighters who responded Sept. 29 to a mobile home fire at 200 Longtown Road rescued eight shepherd-mix puppies from beneath the dwelling.

Assistant Chief Jamie Webb of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department said firefighters administered oxygen to the puppies using pet oxygen masks donated to the Ridgeway Fire Department and the Fairfield Rescue Squad last year.

Webb and another firefighter heard whining beneath the far end of the mobile home, where the fire burned hottest initially. Then their training kicked in. They used Oxygen for Life kits in the field for the first time to help the puppies recover from exposure to smoke and fire. Webb said the kits contained instructions for oxygen administration as well as animal CPR.

Interim Animal Shelter Director David Brown said the puppies were reunited with their mother after the fire.

"These are eight beautiful shepherd mix puppies," Brown said.

The puppies and their mother are at the Fairfield County Adoption Center until the mobile home owners find a new place to live. Brown said the shelter will keep the animals at least three weeks. By then the puppies should be ready to be weaned.

For now, there are no plans to put the puppies up for adoption, though that could change depending upon the owners' circumstances.

The puppies' lives were saved as the Ridgeway, Southeastern, Greenbrier and Community Fire departments responded to the fire as well as the Fairfield Rescue Squad and Fairfield EMS.

Copyright 2013 - The Herald Independent, Winnsboro, S.C.