Firefighters Revive Chihuahua 'Near Death' in Bowie Blaze

Firefighters discovered two dogs after battling a house fire on Sandal Lane in Bowie Wednesday morning and used pet oxygen masks to revive them, including one that was near death, according to the Prince George's County Fire Department.

No people were in the home at the time of the blaze.

According to spokesman Mark Brady, firefighters responded to a call in the 12400 block of Sandal Lane around 9:30 Wednesday morning to find a two-story cape cod home with substantial flames. 

It took 36 firefighters less than an hour to bring the fire under control. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters were going through the house, putting out hot spots when two small dogs were discovered in the first story of the home, Brady said. 

There was a small black dog and a Chihuahua. The Chihuahua was described by firefighters as "near death" when he was found in the home. The firefighters moved quickly to provide aid to both animals. 

"They took both dogs to the ambulance and used pet oxygen masks to provide fresh oxygen to the dogs," Brady said. The masks were provided to PGFD by various organizations, including Bowie CLAW, for just this purpose. 

"The Chihuahua was near death, according to fire fighters, and was revived and appeared to be in good health," Brady said. 

The second dog appeared to be in good health as well, though Brady said both dogs had some singed fur and had likely inhaled quite a bit of smoke during the ordeal. 

The dogs' owner arrived on the scene and the animals were released to the owner's care. 

The home involved in the fire was under foreclosure, but Brady said it was occupied by at least one person. The relationship between the occupant and the home owner is uncertain, said Brady, as is the relationship between the home owner and the dog owner. 

The cause of the fire is unknown. Damages are estimated at $100,000, Brady said. There were no other injuries reported.