22 dogs killed in fire at Wellington County kennel

Fire spread through a Wellington County kennel Friday causing the death of 22 Dachshund dogs.

Crews arrived at the rural property, along Concession Road 8 in the community of Moorefield, around 9 a.m. and saw flames coming out of the building's attic.

Once firefighters were able to get inside, the found the dead dogs.

“There were 20 adults and two little pups,” said Mapleton Deputy Fire Chief Tom Wood. “They raise Dachshunds and sell them. They raise other dogs but they were in another shed.”

The business, listed as Bournecrest Kennels online, describes itself as a long-term breeder of registered miniature Dachshunds.

“As soon as we got the fire knocked down we brought out all the dogs so they wouldn’t be buried in debris in there, so they could do what they needed to do with the dogs, so they didn’t have to do it themselves,” Wood said. “Our firefighters went in there and brought them all out.”

He also noted that the kennel had in-floor heating.

The fire is not believed to be suspicious and damage is estimated at $70,000.