Fundraiser Begun For Dogs Rescued From Ridgefield House Fire

RIDGEFIELD, CT — An online fundraiser has been established for the owner of five dogs injured in a residential fire Friday morning.

All five of the dogs were taken to a nearby veterinarian. Two of dogs, Goldie, a 14-year-old greyhound, and Drake, a 7-year-old Saint Bernard, were in critical condition and taken from the vet's office to Cornell University Veterinary Specialists in Stamford. After being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, Drake was released. The greyhound is still suffering from an irregular heartbeat as of Saturday night. Veterinarians say the condition may be the result of a prolonged lack of oxygen, according to Caitlin Duggan, the organizer of the fundraiser.

The three other dogs were later examined at Cornell and released. A pet pigeon died in the house fire.

The Ridgefield Fire Department was alerted to the blaze Friday morning. First responders found heavy smoke coming from a kitchen fire.

"It was not clear if anyone was home and there was a report of pets in the house," according to fire officials, who called for a search that revealed several dogs who were trapped throughout the smoke-filled house in several rooms. The unresponsive dogs were removed from the burning house by firefighters and given oxygen.

The dog's owner, Tara Mercado, an animal welfare worker, "has devoted her life to saving the lives of those who don't have a voice to save themselves, but today it is Tara who needs our help," Duggan posted on the GoFundMe page.

"Between the vet bills, Cornell specialist care, and damage to the home, Tara will be facing a mountain of expenses that would be difficult for anyone, but particularly for someone who is in her line of work," Duggan wrote.

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