A Very Sad Day: 60 Baby Puppies Killed in Trailer Fire

My thanks to Chris Perillo who brought this to the attention of the Internet community in his blog.

"I almost cried when I heard this tonight. Seriously. 60 puppies die in Mass. trailer fire:

“The puppies were all beautiful, healthy purebreds that were on their way to quality retailers in the northeast and eventually to loving New England families,” the company said in a statement. The company said it has a near-perfect safety record.

Retailers?! So help me God, if these beautiful creatures were being shipped to mall-based pet stores, I’m going to scream. Dogs die every day on the streets, in homes, at the pound, etc. - but 60 of them, en masse? That’s just so incredibly sad. The senseless loss of human life is to be equally lamented, but… puppies?! How could your heart not drop after hearing of this accident? "

Thanks for this report, as sad as it is, Chris. I've reprinted the entire story from the Associated Press below: PAT

60 puppies die in Mass. trailer fire

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LOWELL, Mass. -- A trailer carrying dozens of puppies to Northeast pet stores caught fire just off an interstate, killing all of the estimated 60 dogs inside, authorities said.

The driver first noticed smoke coming from his trailer just before 5 p.m. Monday, state police said. He pulled over, and the Lowell Fire Department put out the flames that engulfed the trailer, but they couldn't save the puppies.

The puppies were a variety of breeds between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks, according to a state police news release.

Neither the driver, identified as Joseph Price, 40, of Joplin, Mo., nor his passenger, William Iriarte, 50, of Neosho, Mo., was injured.

A preliminary investigation indicated that a malfunctioning fan in the rear of the trailer may have started the fire, police said. No charges have been filed.

The truck was owned by the Hunte Corp. of Goodman, Mo., a major puppy supplier for pet stores.

"The puppies were all beautiful, healthy purebreds that were on their way to quality retailers in the northeast and eventually to loving New England families," the company said in a statement. The company said it has a near-perfect safety record.