Firefighters pulled the female brindle-colored dog from an animal crate inside a house at 406 N.W. 53rd St. just before 11 a.m. Friday. Crews attacked the blaze inside and had the flames out within 10 minutes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The dog, which firefighters named “Lucky,” suffered smoke inhalation and was doing well the first few days of treatment, said DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital spokeswoman Kate Goudschaal.
“Unfortunately, she took a turn for the worse,” she said.
Goudschaal said that it is common for smoke inhalation cases to first seem well, but get progressively worse because of the damage to lung tissue. The veterinarian put the dog to sleep on Monday.
“It’s always a sad day when we lose an animal,” she said. “They present seemingly well and then we watch them deteriorate.”
The dog owners had not contacted the hospital as of Monday, Goudschaal said. Animal Control Officer Trisha Kraff is investigating the situation, but had not spoken with the owners as of Monday.
County property records state the owners of the residence are John and Raelene Jarvis.
(Columbian - Jan 14, 2013)
