Animals Rescued from Burning Home
posted 9:46 pm Tue November 13, 2007 - Falls Church, Va.
A man and nearly 70 pets were inside a house when if caught fire Monday afternoon.
It happened in the 6900 block of Jefferson Avenue in Falls Church. Fairfax County Fire Department arrived to find smoke showing from the front of the home. They went into the home through the front door and found a couch on fire.
The adult male was taken by medical helicopter to an area hospital for smoke inhalation, but is expected to recover.
The animals were also inside the house during the fire. 68 total animals were located:
54 - 52 dogs were taken to the animal shelter
2 service dogs stayed with the owner
13 cats - 7 died in the home
5 transported to a local veterinarian
1 transported to the animal shelter
1 bird (died in the home)
Relatives tell ABC7/NewsChannel 8's Jay Korff that Denis Downey Junior owns the house. Downey Senior said his son runs a private shelter of sorts, rescuing and rehabilitating animals with the hope of placing them in loving homes.
While animal control officers carted off cage after cage of animals, zoning and health officials were concerned about the legality of the home.
Officers served the residents, Denis Downey Junior, 51, and Mark D. Snyder, 31, with seizure and impound procedures. Police said Downey was also charged with care of animals by owner and released on a summons.
All of the animals were taken to the county shelter and separated from the general population.
It happened in the 6900 block of Jefferson Avenue in Falls Church. Fairfax County Fire Department arrived to find smoke showing from the front of the home. They went into the home through the front door and found a couch on fire.
The adult male was taken by medical helicopter to an area hospital for smoke inhalation, but is expected to recover.
The animals were also inside the house during the fire. 68 total animals were located:54 - 52 dogs were taken to the animal shelter
2 service dogs stayed with the owner
13 cats - 7 died in the home
5 transported to a local veterinarian
1 transported to the animal shelter
1 bird (died in the home)
Relatives tell ABC7/NewsChannel 8's Jay Korff that Denis Downey Junior owns the house. Downey Senior said his son runs a private shelter of sorts, rescuing and rehabilitating animals with the hope of placing them in loving homes.
While animal control officers carted off cage after cage of animals, zoning and health officials were concerned about the legality of the home.
Officers served the residents, Denis Downey Junior, 51, and Mark D. Snyder, 31, with seizure and impound procedures. Police said Downey was also charged with care of animals by owner and released on a summons.
All of the animals were taken to the county shelter and separated from the general population.
Latest Comment on Animals Rescued from Burning Home
freeurmind
2:28 pm on 11/14/07
Wow. I wonder how many other homes in our area contains that kind of mayhem.
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