OAKLAND — Three puppies were rescued by firefighters Friday afternoon after a fire erupted at the former site of an East Oakland pet store that city officials previously investigated for not properly caring for animals.
No injuries were reported.
The fire started at 3:05 p.m. Friday inside a building in the 10800 block of Bancroft Avenue.
Batallion Fire Chief Sean Laffan said when firefighters arrived they could hear the puppies barking inside and rescued them.
Fire officials could not confirm if the pet store was still operating or if anyone was living there.
The fire is believed to be electrical-related and ignited in the part of the building where the puppies were located, officials said.
The shop is one of several businesses that share the building, which has a common attic.The fire was under control at 3:24 p.m. No damage estimate has been determined.
The puppies owner and pet store proprietor, Rosie Hall, arrived at the scene while firefighters were still there, officials said. What she may have told authorities was not released.
Last January, city officials seized dozens of dogs from Hall’s pet store after complaints about conditions at the site. Hall was warned that before she could reopen her shop, she had to upgrade it and pass inspections from the city’s building services and fire department. She had to show that conditions were clean and hazard-free. It was not clear Friday if she was still operating the shop, and city officials could not be reached for comment.
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