Tragedy was avoided this week when dozens of dogs were bravely rescued by firefighters and community members in one Missouri neighborhood, where a doggie daycare caught fire. The community rallied together to rescue 70 dogs from the blaze, which caused the building to partially collapse.
The fire took place at 2:45 p.m. on June 23, and it sounds like the doggie daycare was packed with pups at the time it ignited.
A Howlin’ Good Time dog daycare shared the scary story in a Facebook post, sharing their appreciation and gratitude to everyone who stepped up to make sure all the dogs made it out okay. “Thank you to everyone in the animal community that came out to help us today all dogs are safe. All parents picking up dogs,” they wrote in the post.
Related: Brave Dog Credited With Saving His Family From a Washington Wildfire
According to a statement made to a local Fox News affiliate, the fire department is hailing locals as the real heroes, since they jumped in to help.
“Nothing really matters but the life,” Bryan Clouser of Real McCoy Bodywork said during an interview. “These dogs are like children to these people, and they’re like family members to these people.”
True to his word, Clouser said he and the others at the body shop dropped everything to pitch in. “We stopped working on these cars. We set everything aside. Schedules, agendas, everything, and we get these dogs outta there.” Clouser even provided shelter to some of the rescued animals until their pet parents could come pick them up.
It’s amazing how the neighborhood rallied around the pups and ran towards the danger to make sure no lives were lost. What a happy ending to a story that could’ve had a devastating turn for so many!
Related: Pet Evacuation Team Swoops in to Save Animals Displaced by Tragic Alder Springs Fire