Most people are so busy these days getting on with their lives that they may come across as being indifferent. However, one cannot write off the innate goodness in them as it manifests every now and then. A pet store in Danbury, Connecticut, would’ve been a scene of tragedy if it were not for the heroics of a few good Samaritans.
On Jan. 3, 2019, a fire started at a warehouse located at the rear of the Puppy Love animal center, at 37 Lake Avenue, Danbury. But, miraculously, all the 86 dogs at the store were saved after the two-alarm blaze went off.
Owned by Danbury Powersports, the storage building connected to Puppy Love was full of ATVs, quads, and motorcycles and it went up in flames at around 9 p.m., while numerous calls were made to a 911 dispatcher.
Firefighters arrived at the scene within two minutes of the calls, and people around rushed to help.
Dan Cook, who works in a nearby restaurant, was among the first rescuers.
However, the shatterproof glass wasn’t making things easy.
“We succeeded by actually taking a statue and launching it through the front door and then at that point we were able to successfully get all of the dogs out,” said Bes Kaba, manager of neighboring Stanziato’s Restaurant.
Jonathan Jimenez and Eric Walsh, two other volunteer rescuers, were eating at a nearby restaurant when they learned of the fire and rushed to help. The duo broke into the store by one of the side doors and began taking the crates out of the building.
Deputy Fire Chief Steve Williams, who determined the source of the fire, said, “We formed a human chain” to get all 86 dogs safely out of the pet store.
Civilians along with the other firefighters moved the crates along with the puppies out of the building. The blaze was doused in and no major casualties were reported.
The fact that all the crates had wheels on them made the rescue act easier.
“The reason we have them on wheels is for these kind of crazy things,” said Sean Silverman, the owner of Puppy Love. “So, if those weren’t on wheels, it would’ve been even more crazy.”
The canines were taken to a vacant storefront nearby by a human chain formed by volunteers and were then examined by veterinarians.
“We checked all the pets,” said Dr. Jeffrey Hubsher, the primary veterinarian for Puppy Love. “Some were a little shaken up. They are babies. But, by the time we left, everybody was eating.”
Puppy Love has been owned and operated by Silverman and his wife, Nancy, since 1995. The couple has expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the community for giving their all to rescue their adorable pooches.
