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‘Horrific’ Scene As Outside Fire Kills Dog, Three Puppies; Owner Cited For Violations
January 2, 2018
Editor’s note: Some readers may find the details in this story and the photographs below to be disturbing.
A dog and three puppies died in a “horrific” accidental outside fire Monday night in Cantonment, as additional puppies were left behind to suffer through a frigid night, according to a local woman. But Escambia County Animal Control says the incident was handled by their office.
The fire was reported shortly before 6 p.m. behind a home in the 600 block of County Road 97 and burned the animals in what neighbor Laura Catterton described as a “cage on stilts”. The fire was reportedly started by an electric space heater that was being used to keep the dogs warm.
“I heard the dog screaming,” Catterton said. “I climbed over fence but couldn’t save them.”
Catterton said Escambia County Animal Control responded but did not seize three litters of puppies remaining in the cold in chain link kennels. She said the homeowner was not at home.
“Animal control does not think puppies outside in 20 degree temperatures is neglect,” she said. “What the hell? I’m furious with animal control not investigating.”
“This has been one of the worst nights of my life,” Catterton said.
“The officer who responded last night wrote multiple violations to homeowner. The citations were written as a mandatory court appearance and we will ask the judge for injunctive relief to prevent him from owning animals for whatever time the judge determines,” Escambia County Public Information Office Joy Tsubooka said Tuesday morning. “The officer made sure that all of the dogs on the property were inside or in proper shelter before she left the scene last night..”
Tsubooka said property owner Carlos Moorer was home at the time Escambia Animal Control responded to investigate.
An activity report from Escambia County Animal Control states that Moorer said an 8-year old adult female and three 4-week old puppies died in the fire. One 19-month old adult female and six puppies remained in the backyard kennel after the fire. None of the dogs were vaccinated for rabies.
The dogs were housed in three fenced pens, each of which contained a barrel for shelter.
Moorer was cited for three counts of animal cruelty, one per pen, for inadequate shelter, two counts of non-potable water and issued two citations for unlicensed and unvaccinated animals.
According to Escambia County records, Moorer holds a business tax receipt (business license) for “Carlos Moorer Pet Supply” at the home.
Pictured top: Fire claimed the life of a dog and three puppies in Cantonment Monday night. Pictured below: Photos show the cage were a dog and three puppies died Monday night in Cantonment. Pictured bottom: Firefighters provide water to several remaining puppies. Reader submitted photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
33 Responses to “‘Horrific’ Scene As Outside Fire Kills Dog, Three Puppies; Owner Cited For Violations”
Doesn’t surprise me about Animal control. We had a stray dog hang around our house for several days. Called Animal Control and were told to catch the dog and call them and they would come pick it up. My husband told them that wasn’t his job, but he did try to catch the dog, but couldn’t. Called AC, they said they did come out, but couldn’t find the dog. No one at our home saw them on the day stated. Said they didn’t have the time to come out, when called again and catch the dog if we couldn’t catch him and hold h[m. My husband was so frustrated, he finally caught the dog and took it to the shelter. The dog had a chip and the owner was found. Bless the small dogs left behind. I hope they are ok. God bless the neighbor who tried to help.
A Momma. Leaving an electric heater in a ramshackle wooden pen was not “thoughtful”. I will keep the rest of my thoughts about you to myself, I am sure they wouldn’t be printed. BJ. This woman works tirelessly at an animal rescue. Listening to a dog screaming as it burned to death would definitely make my worst nights list. I am not young, nor extremely blessed. YOUR compassion overwhelms me. I sincerely hope Mrs. Catterton does not see either of your remarks. Oh, by the way, I sincerely hope neither of you have any pets.
Knowing Laura and how dedicated she is to saving and making the lives of animals better, folks can rest easy in their armchairs knowing her heart, mind, and most importantly, ACTIONS were focused entirely on rescuing those dogs. That night as she climbed over the fence hearing their screams and many years leading to that night spent trying to reason with the dogs’ owner in addition to formal complaint filing. In a perfect world, I suppose she should have just stolen the animals.
For the inevitable critics, please don’t conflate the outrage surrounding the death of these dogs with lack of interest in human issues. Animal advocates are capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time! Let YOUR actions in regard to those issues speak louder than your criticisms of those whose hearts and lives are dedicated to the welfare of animals. There is, after all, an established connection between the way humans treat animals and the way humans treat one another.
First of all, thank you Laura for trying to help.
Now the Animal Control? You should be ashamed of yourself. An owner with that many puppies, cages and a ramshackle heat and water system is a PUPPY MILL. What are you waiting on? Him to have 300 puppies?
Last but not least… why isn’t the owner in JAIL??
First of all, thank you Laura for trying to help.
Now the Animal Control? You should be ashamed of yourself. An owner with that many puppies, cages and a ramshackle heat and water system is a PUPPY MILL. What are you waiting on? Him to have 300 puppies?
If it is too cold for humans due to Freezing… Then it is TOO COLD FOR PETS… The so called human that set up this crap for a mother dog and her puppies is responsible for them dying to death by fire… WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH…
Animal Control Officer leaving these dogs without taking them in for protection from the freezing weather is just as guilty…
WHAT A SAD, SAD STORY. MY HEART BREAKS FOR ALL THE ANIMALS INVOLVED. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?
Sad situation but……Makes me wonder when dogs were created. I want to think dogs have been around awhile. That being said, I highly doubt there were space heaters 200 years ago and highly doubt people brought their animals inside when it was cold. I hate it, and my husband would definitely say something to the guy if he were our neighbors. Please folks calm down.
You don’t leave a frikken space heater in or near a dog house. They have warming pads to use for dogs that have anti chew cords how stupid can people be. If you have to do its that way just bring dogs in basement or garage or better yet not have any at all.
What’s happened to Animal Control? I removed plenty of animals during the 12 years that I worked there during cold weather, are you ACO’s so job scared now or do you just not have any compassion that you just turn your head and look the other way? Thank God I don’t work there anymore, I’d hate to know I had ignored this call and was responsible for this. So ashamed to of our animal control
This is absolutely heartbreaking!! ECSO/ECAC THOSE DOGS NEED TO BE RESCUED! Get an emergency injunction to confiscate them! I got sick to my stomach last night when I read the neighbors accounts of what happened and what animal control said! Those poor babies!! I hope they’re in a safe and warm
Place
Unfortunate and hope justice is served. But as I read the comments I try and wrap my mind around the outrage shown and calling animal control useless, as babies are aborted every hour yet most wont say a word…
With all the times animal control was called on this house, it’s sad that it took dogs being killed in a fire before they would issue any citations. And those citations could have been issued any day of the year. NOW they are going to make him go before a judge to decide if he’s allowed to own animals? This should have been done long ago.
One of the comments stated that animal control advocates to leave a light bulb plugged in to keep outdoor pets warm. Just as crazy as using a space heater to keep unsupervised dogs comfortable. You can do this for plants not unruly animals. Also, the guy must have had some flammable material in the barrel that served as the puppies’ living quarter to create such a hot burning fire. Please don’t tell me it was determined he put hay in the barrel and put a space heater next to it!
It is only one person at that house and it’s a male. It is horrible how he treated the dogs. He don’t need any animals. He should be ashamed of his self.
Americans in general are becoming a people without any conscience. If you can let innocent creatures, who feel pain, just like you do suffer alone in the cold, without proper protection, you will do it to your own and FEEL NOTHING! BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING!!JUST AN EMPTY SHELL!NOT HUMAN!
Why do stupid and irresponsible people always get a free pass and some government agency gets the blame? That goes for the mistreatment of dogs, cats, human babies – you name it. Don’t have them if you do not want the responsibility! The owner will likely say he had no idea dogs could push over a space heater or chew up it’s electrical cord. What if the owner came home stating he had planned on giving the dogs and puppies a warm environment overnight – but animal control had already removed them? Animal control would be on the blame receiving end again and likely face a lawsuit. Disgusting.
If the owners were written up for animal cruelty then why did this officer feel it was safe to leave other dogs in their care? I think this officer should be questioned to her judgement on this matter. Dogs burned in a cage, it was below 20 chill last night. I would think just having these pets outside would be enough to take the other ones to a safe warm place.
thus is a disgrace! animal control is useless! there should be an investgation as to why these pups were left and not taken! My heart hurts from this. I hope this animal control person doesn’t own pets. Heartless just heartless! I hope he/she can sleep with themselves. i hope this goes viral.
So, space heaters are supposed to heat the whole outdoors? Really?
What a heartbreaking story
Kel B, they did not let her take the puppies. There were left there outside last night. Neigbors have called animal control numerous times on this household for leaving dogs outside in sub-freezing weather and in scorching triple digit temps without water. Animal control refuses to do ANYTHING!!! I don’t understand why people would get dogs just to keep them in cages 24/7 out in the elements and not care for them properly. It’s heartwrenching to hear these dogs whining all the time and there’s nothing you can do.
This is heartbreaking!!!! What!!! Animal Control why didn’t you do your job!??
Absolutely no excuses!!!
ThankYou to the neighbor!
Hopefully the remaining puppies are safe and warm.
Sounds like they were running a puppy mill, where many animals are kept in cages with no room to run. Those kinds of owners are only interested in profit, not animal comfort and care. William please give us the rest of the story. Who are they? Why weren’t they home? Why were the animals outside in this weather? What repercussions are there, if any?
Kel B, she does not have the puppies. They were left outside. Neighbors have called animal control on this residence multiple times for leaving dogs outside in freezing weather and in scorching summer days with no water. Animal Control refuses to do ANYTHING about it! I don’t understand why people get pets if you’re going to keep them in a cage 24/7 and not care for them properly.
Look, some people you just can’t help, you can never satisfy them enough. Nothing can be done right. If they left them out without nothing, they’re cruel, leaving a heater was thoughtful. In another story, it was actually told if you couldn’t bring them in, to leave a light bulb on but not if using hay. These owners did not have them on a cold ground, they actually had them off the ground with a heater. Doesn’t sound cruel or heartless to me. Maybe they had to go somewhere, there is no law that states your life has to revolve around your dogs. Dog owners need to do things too & dog owners do not have to live so close to their dogs to where when they stop or sit down, the animals don’t get shoved up their owners butts. Mrs. Catterton isn’t really a hero, she was a hero for the second but so the owner would have been if they’d been home. If she was so caring, & didn’t like them leaving them out in the cold, why didn’t she look after them while the owners were gone? But, I’m not going to blame her like she & everyone else blames others, it was just a statement to let others see how stupid they sound. It was an accident, why can’t people just understand? To Dog Lover, Kel B & Julie L, I sure hope you never make a mistake, but if you do, only if it’s in your mind that you think of what your saying about others, now. But, I’m sure, it will be a true mistake. I also hope you read all my sarcasm.
Animal Control and DCF aren’t worth anything. I know I’ve read and heard the news say to bring animals in during this cold but if they can’t be brought in, make sure they’re warm. Maybe we should leave her outide and see how good she likes it. State of FL needs to stop wasting money
on petty things like the new ID’s
“one of the worst nights of your life”????
Hate the dogs died but, you are extremely young or extremely blessed.
Try losing your child!!!!
Reality and perspective would do you some good.
Animal control is NOT doing their job!!! All these animals should be removed from these conditions!!!
Let me get this straight. 20 degrees is not cold enough for puppies?? Wasn’t the shelter advising to bring in all animals due to the hard freeze this week. What’s wrong with this picture? Someone needs to be investigated. I hope the head of the Animal Shelter takes responsibility. May those animals RIP!
This is horrific!!! My heart is breaking this morning for the sweet ones e lost and for the ones left behind to live in those kinds of conditions! I hope that if this story is accurate there is an investigation into why the other dogs were left at the home after this.
I’m guessing the neighbor currently has the puppies? I’ll take them in. This is absolutely disgusting on the animal control officer’s part but after some previous dealings with them regarding animal shelter and safety I cannot say I am surprised.
There’s no excuse for that Animal Control Officer to leave those dogs without protection from the weather. I wonder if his conscience can handle the results if the rest of those dogs don’t survive? Hopefully, tomorrow’s headline won’t read “Dogs left without protection from cold die from exposure.” Blessings to the kind neighbor who tried to help. When the owner is found, I hope he is fined heavily or jailed.