46 Neglected Dogs Burned In Explosion After Owner Starts Fire With Cigarette

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More than 40 dogs are now recovering at Mackinac County Animal Shelter in Michigan after they suffered horrible burns from a gas explosion at their Hessel home.

The explosion happened after their owner lit a cigarette too close to gas cans that had leaked fumes in the home. The owner was also injured and is hospitalized.

The dogs suffered facial burns around their eyes, on their ears and snouts. Some of the burns were so bad that one dog’s snout actually melted off. Others are also burned on other parts of their bodies such as their stomachs.

The dogs were rescued by an off-duty firefighter who assisted at the scene, and are now continuing their care and treatment at the shelter. They have a long road ahead of them, but their injuries are improving daily.

When the off-duty firefighter arrived, he found most of the dogs chained up outside, while the rest were inside the home.

The first thing he did was bring the woman and the dogs inside the home to safety as fast as possible. The dogs outside were unchained and let loose so they could get away as quickly as possible. Cops then tracked down all but one of the dogs.

In addition to their burns, most of the dogs were also underweight and malnourished with ribs and hip bones showing. Officials believe these dogs have been abused or neglected even prior to the fire, which the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating.

The owner, who could face criminal charges, recently moved to Hessel from Alaska, and police believe these dogs may have been used for sled dog racing.

The dogs will continue to recover at the shelter as the police continue their investigation.

They will either be returned to their owner, or eventually put up for adoption, depending on the outcome of the investigation.