Kennel fire- Warning, Graphic - Page 1

I got a frantic call from my kennel girl Friday afternoon when I was on my way to the vet in NJ asking if this was my kennel because there aren't many kennels around here. Thank God it wasn't, but very sad for the dogs who perished. The propane delivery man is listed in critical condition, air-lifted to the burn center at Lehigh Valley Hospital. Badly burned as he was, he still managed to toss a dog over the fence. More dogs dying daily. The entire veterinary and police community responded heroically, but the tank was so close to the kennel building there was no time, litttle chance to save most of the dogs.. One dog was thrown all the way over the 6' cyclone fence and on to the Turnpike, but was saved and in good shape last report. Several have died since.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-kennel-explosion-030609-cn,0,1996167.story

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-videoycdtgfbj70qt.6809651mar07,0,3360805.story

SS

I just watched this short video and it made me cry. Poor dogs, you can see how much pain they have to endure.  Thanks to all these people who tried to get them out without worrying about injuries to themselves.
My condolences to the owners for the loss of life and the damage to their kennel.

OMG that is aweful.

kathy

OK, should not have watched the video...

Kathy

My girl friend boards her shelties there.......hope they were at home............very sad, prayers to the pups, their owners, & the kennel owners. jh

This is a very sad situation for all concerned. Clearly, a lot of people tried bravely to help and should be commended for their efforts.

I am always surprised about propane accidents. They are preventable. And, in my part of the country,  there are strict regulations about placement of tanks.  

As a former paramedic, I can tell you that burns are perhaps the most painful of all injuries I ever saw in my field career. In the case of the burned dogs in this incident, in many cases, it may end up that they are best and most humanely euthanized. The delivery man, if he was badly burned, will be in for months, and perhaps years of treatment and therapy if he survives.

My thoughts are with all involved. I am sure it is a sad, sad day for many in that town.

The Mahoning Township cops are the new hires we have here. BIG improvement over the bunch the new chief gave the axe. One of them was working his first day, brand new uniform with a big hole burnt in  the chest. Dr Renny Shoup, a local horse vet from Jim Thorpe, was on-scene in no time flat, administering and doing triage out of his VetPak truck. No mention of shelties on-site, only chows and a Cain terrier that the truck driver tossed over the fence. I don't think I would have boarded dogs there myself. The place is kind of a dump, even if it did pass inspections. Better to board at Char-Will in New Ringold (oil heat) or Llewelyn down off 443. (also oil heat) The ex run is the enclosure the propane tank was in, right next to the kennel. I doubt Martha Stewart was ever there in person. Hard to buy a dog from those two old gals at that place IMO. They needed a new mobile home anyway. That one was pretty sad. That's the third kennel fire in the Greater Lehigh Valley in just a few years. The last two were at a place in Bangor area that was using a freaking wood stove for heat ...on a wooden floor. 150 dogs perished. You think they would learn after the first fire.

The Franklin Township fire department is just up the street but 5 departments responded. I'm still amazed at how fast everybody responded.

The whole thing makes me go up and hug my dogs, and my ultra-safe Monitor kero kennel heater. I'm putting ceiling fire extinquishers on both floors in our new building and the basement (where pups are born) just the same. No way a fire truck would get up our driveway in winter.

SS

I'm not even gonna look.

So sad.  I'm with 4pack, not even going to look.

Good call to not look....

Kathy