Puppy in doghouse after setting fire to owner's home

Aug 28 2008 by Sandra Walls, Hamilton Advertiser

AN 11-week-old puppy caused a house fire after chewing through an aerosol can.

Border Collie Charlie lives with his owners Jean and Michael O’Donnell in Burnbank.

Cheeky Charlie was ‘home alone’ on Saturday when he climbed on to a chair and removed the can of Intensive Care deodorant from a shelf in the living room of their ground-floor flat in Sempie Street.

He bit through the can and its contents were ignited by the pilot light of the living room’s gas fire, causing an explosion and fire.

Firefighters were called but by the time they arrived neighbours had extinguished the flames.

Jean (41) said: “Charlie’s fur was slightly singed and he was shaken but he was otherwise unhurt.

“The fire had started on the rug and burnt right through to the carpet and underlay.”

A Fire Service spokesman said there had been no injuries and damage had been confined to carpeting in the living room.

“Every dog is supposed to have it’s day and in this case Charlie’s lucky day was Saturday, ” he added.

Jean and 40-year-old Michael bought Charlie five weeks ago and he quickly became a firm favourite with their children Stacy (10), Ryan (12) and Darren (23).

The emergency occurred about 3pm while the family were out.

Mary and Jim Jordan and their daughter Ann, who was visiting from Canada, heard the explosion from their flat above the O’Donnells.

Ann ran downstairs and looked in the living room window and saw the fire burning and Charlie “running around in a panic”.

Ann was able to get in through the back door - because Ryan had forgotten to lock it - and she threw water over the fire and pulled Charlie to safety.

Two fire engines then arrived and the police attended and took statements.

Jean said: “We had only been out for a couple of hours when I got the phone call from my brother to get back home as there was a fire at my house and that the fire service and police were attending.

“I panicked a bit and we made our way home right away.”

Michael added: “This was a freak accident, but one that could happen more than you think because lots of people have puppies or other animals that get up to all sorts, and every house has aerosols lying around.

“It has been a lesson and we’re just glad, more than anything else, that Charlie is unharmed.

“Without our neighbours’ quick thinking and dousing the fire, it could have turned into a blaze with more serious consequences and Charlie could easily have died or been seriously burned.”

The Fire Service spokesman said: “Aerosol cans are commonplace and every home has dozens of them sitting around.

“People may think that they are harmless but they can cause huge and frightening explosions if they are pierced, and should be kept well out of harm’s way of pets and children, and treated with respect.