Maryland

9 Dogs Killed in Christmas Eve Kennel Fire

Flames ripped through a Maryland kennel on Christmas Eve, taking the lives of nine beagles.

Neighbors and first respnders worked together to save as many dogs as possible when the fire broke out just before midnight at Middletown Valley Beagles in Frederick County.

Many of the 22 beagles living in the kennel were trapped.

"There was probably 15 dogs in the house being held by multiple members of the club. Kids from 14 to adults that are 70 trying to care for them until I got there," said Dr. Brooks Ahalt with the Jefferson Veterinary Hospital.

Six dogs died in the fire and three more had to be euthanized because their injuries were so severe.

"To see how bad the burns were, smoke inhalation just like human victims when there's a fire. We had to make some couple hard decisions on dogs that suffered significant burns and smoke inhalation," Ahalt said.

Alasdair Storer, who operates the kennel, says he tried to fight the blaze along with firefighters from the Middletown Volunteer Fire Department.

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"We still have a hunting pack of beagles and we will come through this. We are going to be rebuilding our kennel and we'll be bigger, better and stronger," Storer said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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