Hundreds of dogs saved from fire at research farm

Alder Ridge Farms Inc. employees and firefighters worked frantically Friday to rescue beagles after a blaze broke out at the facility.

"I watched them pull hundreds of dogs out of there alive," Northern Wayne Fire Chief John Peper said via phone Monday. He said about 20 Alder Ridge Farms employees worked side by side with area firefighters to rescue the dogs.

"The people that work there went past their call of duty to rescue those animals. They went into a smoke-filled building to do that," Peper said.

There is no word on how many dogs died, but Jerry Theobald of the Honesdale Fire Department said he could see "some dead animals in cages." No people were hurt in the fire, said Honesdale Fire Chief Stan Pratt.

Crews remained on the scene about 9 ½ hours, until 10 p.m. Peper said 10 to 12 fire departments responded. "They just jumped right in, doing what they were supposed to do," Peper said. "It was awesome" to see so many fire departments working side by side.

Alder Ridge Farms Inc. raises beagles for research purposes.

The Wayne Independent