Couple left homeless after New Minas fire
Firefighters rescue two dogs from blaze
The two dogs injured in a Wednesday house fire in New Minas are doing better.
The more seriously injured animal, an American pit bull named Achilles, is on an IV, but owner Derek Sherman said Achilles has been eating.
The other dog, an Amstaff Pit Bull called Orion, was perkier. Derek said the two did not want their owners to leave them at veterinarian’s office after they were reunited.
Firefighters rescued the two dogs after they were called to a fire in a New Minas bungalow shortly before 9 a.m. The fire heavily damaged the home and the dogs were rushed to a local vet for emergency care.
The fire has left the couple feeling numb, says Sherman. He was flummoxed when staff at the veterinarian’s office told him that he could take Orion home.
“I told them I don’t have a home to take him to,” he said.
The dogs are being cared for overnight at the vet clinic while
the couple sort out what to do next.
The Dow Road house Derek and his new wife, Rebecca, lived in “is all black and melted inside.”
The couple met with a Red Cross caseworker later Wednesday. Both had started new jobs just this week.
Married just one month ago, the couple left for work at about 8:40 a.m. and the dogs were crated in the living room. Less than 15 minutes later, a neighbour saw black smoke and called 911.
The Shermans house may be structurally sound, but they fear
they have lost all the contents. The couple’s insurance lapsed a couple of months ago and they don’t know where to turn next.
The couple does not have anyone in the area they can turn to for help and have nowhere to stay.
Early reports indicated flames were shooting out of the windows of the modest bungalow, but firefighters were able to knock the fire back quickly.
Fire chief Jim Redmond said the fire started in the living room of the bungalow and firefighters are investigating the cause.