***EVERYONE READ THIS ***

I can't imagine them acting that slow. The firemen here are fast! If it were me, I would have ran into the building myself. There is NO WAY I would have stayed there and watched them do nothing. It SHOULD NOT take 10 minutes to get ready to distinguish a fire, and this I know as my ex boyfriend fights fires. That is his job. And yes, they ARE there to save lives. That is their job, which is why they carry medical equipment on their trucks! They are there to put out the fire AND save lives. Perhaps this man could have cared less, but the least they could have done was tell someone. Something could have been done to save this dog. I don't believe for one second that more couldn't have been done.

I dont really know what to say about this. I am so sorry you had to see that Yellowlablover, I cant even imagine such a sight. I agree with what Logan said though. Poor dog, and family.:(

Thanks everyone for the comments. I feel *so* bad for that family, their kids are so young- this has to be so traumatic for them- loosing their dog and toys...wow. :( :( :( The house doesn't look bad at all honestly. There is absoultely no external fire damage (inside possibly, but no flames were seen). The windows are knocked out (they are now boarded up), the inside of the house is pitch black, and it smells like burining rubber. I think the house is repairable, only about 1/4 of the house has damage, the rest looks totally untouched.

About two hours after the fire my neighbor Stephanie and I went to the pet store and bought decals for windows. I kept 2, she kept 2, and the rest we gave to our other neighbors who have pets.

There were absolutely NO flames visable in/on the house, just smoke coming from the roof/gutter area. They smashed out the windows and smoke could be seen coming out of the windows. Once they did enter the house and hose the house they were done in about 15 minutes. There was not one flame to be seen anywhere on the house- it wasn't like 15 foot flames were billowing out of the windows making it nearly impossible to enter the house, like other houses I have seen on fire, then it would be very understandable how long it took them.

A couple of months ago a house at the other end of the block started on fire around 3 AM in the morning. A wheelchair bound elderly lady and her dog were killed in the fire, seeing how it was most likely the same squad who responded- I can totally see why the poor lady and her dog never made it out of the house. :(


Personally, I would run back into the house to get my animals, they mean so much to me, I could not stand on the sidewalk knowing that my pets are still inside..no way!

That is so horrible. I probably would have run in the house, myself. I can see both sides to this. The one fireman you told should have at least told someone else about the dog. I hope the firemen in my area aren't like that. I would like to know that my animals stand a chance in case that ever happens. Just one side note: I would hope everyone feels the same about the firemen/women, regardless if they have children or not.

Poor, doggie.... :( :(
I don't understand what a "decal" is, I didn't find it in my dictionary either. Can someone please post a picture of that? Thanks!

ps. Oops, I just saw the other thread about this! Thanks Gracie's mom!

aww Laura, Im so sorry. That must have been really scary! :(

I sorta know how you feal.. We live in a townhouse and our old neighbours were just brats. The littlest one, who was about 6 at the time found his mothers lighter (she was a heavy smoker) and he lit her curtains on fire in her bedroom. Even sadder they had 6 birds, 4 cats, and a 12 week old puppy (collie mix).. Well the little brat lit his moms curtains and fire and ran out of the house. It took the fire department a while to get there to.. and THEY ARE ABOUT 2 MINUTES AWAY!!! All I can remember is my dad running in the house and running out with animals. After 2 other men ran in and started bring out the animals. Only one never got brought out.. it was their puppy, he was under the bed and he lost his life in the fire:( he never had a chance. Its scary to hear the breaking glass and cracking of the fire, its even worse to the that your neighbours house is on fire.. and your house is ATTACHED! The day after the fire my mom called Animal Control (some neighbours took in some animals, we took in a cat) and we ended up bringing the animals to the shelter, to find a better home. We would have adopted the cat, but my mom is very allergic.

I feal horrible for your neighbours.. I can't imagine what you were going through. I will be keeping them in my thoughts.

Maya & Inka, here is an exmaple of an emergency decal (also can be called sticker): http://www.pets.ca/onlinestore/modul...prod&prodid=70

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Originally posted by Tweety_Pie


I sorta know how you feal.. We live in a townhouse and our old neighbours were just brats. The littlest one, who was about 6 at the time found his mothers lighter (she was a heavy smoker) and he lit her curtains on fire in her bedroom. Even sadder they had 6 birds, 4 cats, and a 12 week old puppy (collie mix).. Well the little brat lit his moms curtains and fire and ran out of the house. It took the fire department a while to get there to.. and THEY ARE ABOUT 2 MINUTES AWAY!!! All I can remember is my dad running in the house and running out with animals. After 2 other men ran in and started bring out the animals. Only one never got brought out.. it was their puppy, he was under the bed and he lost his life in the fire:( he never had a chance. Its scary to hear the breaking glass and cracking of the fire, its even worse to the that your neighbours house is on fire.. and your house is ATTACHED! The day after the fire my mom called Animal Control (some neighbours took in some animals, we took in a cat) and we ended up bringing the animals to the shelter, to find a better home. We would have adopted the cat, but my mom is very allergic.

I feal horrible for your neighbours.. I can't imagine what you were going through. I will be keeping them in my thoughts.

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That is horrible!! :( :( Wow. Why would that mom leave a lighter in reach of a stupid kid!? That is good news to hear most of the animals made it out safe, that is so good to hear. The puppy must have been scared to death, if only it knew to flee from harm instead of hide. :( Poor baby.

Laura what a horrible thing for you to have to see and I can't imagaine how the family felt loosing their family pet:(

Thanks GraciesMommy, I just ordered mine.

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Originally posted by dukedogsmom
Just one side note: I would hope everyone feels the same about the firemen/women, regardless if they have children or not.

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Ok. I may be feeling over sensitive here (and I probably am, I've been that way all week) but if this is directed at me, please note that I said:

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Originally posted by micki76
I would personally prefer that my house burn down (yes, even with my dogs inside) than for a father, mother, son, brother, sister, or my cousin to rush into a structure without knowing the most about it that they can, and following procedure to the T.

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:( Thats horrible!! I'm glad you tried to help, but at the same time, sorry you had to see it :(

And I also recommend those emergency window stickies - most pet stores have them too, we sell them at the pet store I work at. They are like $2

i have to say this but if it was just smoke at the time if it had been going for 5-10 mintues before the call came in .to the fire station. It is a good chance the dog was already dead, smoke inhalation is the #1 cause of deadth in most fires. You as a human only have 5-7 mintues before it causes unconsuoness. You can give your self a mintue more by getting low on the floor with a wet cloth over your face.
Most fire stations who do safty training have a video called ,"Get out alive" It takes you in to what a real fire is like. It is dark and scaryin there, I saw it after my hubby left firefighting good thing as I would have been very terrified know it now.
Please every one try tosee this video before judging those brave guys and gals who mostly are volenteers . Also ask them about the guidelines on house fires and pet polyices .
I have a father and hubby who both were fire fighters, as much as I love my pets they are not as important as a human life .(NOT wanting to get into the human vs animal debate. MY opinion)
You say a rubber smell it was a toxic substance that burned the fumes also can cause death from that. My guess is the dog was already gone by the time they got there. I know this isn"t suger coated but I have very strong feelings on this kind of subject.

My dad talked to the lady today (the house owner) and she told him the fire was started by a heating pad that they left on. I used to keep a heating pad on for the rats- not anymore! I just thought I'd let everyone know in case some were wanting to know the cause.