1st Responders On Long Island Rescue Pets From Burning Home

SHIRLEY, NY — First responders rounded up a group of family pets, including three dogs and multiple cats, and brought them to safety after a fire broke out inside of a home in Shirley on Thursday afternoon.

A fire was reported at Probst Drive at about 1:15 p.m., Suffolk police said, adding that officers Joseph Hoffer, Christopher Miron, and Michael Sclafani responded and saw multiple dogs inside. One of the officers was able to break a sliding glass door in the rear of the home so that they could all get inside, according to police.

One of the dogs needed to be carried out by Officer Sclafani, police said.

But not all of the animals in the house were so easily brought to safety.

When firefighters went inside the home, they found multiple cats hiding, and they were given oxygen to help them breathe better, according to police. In one photo posted by Suffolk Fire Photos to Facebook, a firefighter can be seen carrying to safety a soot-covered a tuxedo cat that is gasping for air.

Several of the felines were later taken to a local animal care center for treatment of their injuries, police said.

No residents were reported injured.

All together five different agencies responded to the scene, including police, as well as the Mastic, Brookhaven, and Center Moriches fire departments, and Shirley Community Ambulance.

The fire is under investigation by Arson Section detectives, police said.