Fire destroys part of greyhound rescue facility | Gwinnett Daily Post

STONE MOUNTAIN — For 34 years, Carl Viener has rescued greyhounds, taking them in and pouring his efforts into finding the former racing dogs a permanent home.

On Wednesday, fire claimed their temporary one.

Viener was at Adopt A Greyhound’s home on Annistown Road when, at about 11:45 a.m., he noticed “billowing smoke” coming from the rear building of the two-part structure. He hung up the phone, grabbed the two dogs in that general area and called 911.

By that point, it became apparent there was a full-blown fire.

“It spread a lot,” Viener said Wednesday afternoon, in between phone calls, assessing the damage and helping a repair fence.

Because he had been sweeping and mopping the rear building — generally used only at meal time and when larger quantities of canines necessitate it — the remaining six dogs were already in the home’s front extension and safe from the fire.

The structure, though, was completely destroyed.

“The intense heat and fire got into the frame members and the roof of the house,” Gwinnett County fire spokesman Lt. Colin Rhoden said. “A large area of the roof was burned through and collapsed into the house.”

Fire investigators ultimately determined that the blaze was caused by a portable gas heater, which Viener believes was knocked over by one of the dogs. The front section of the house, which is connected to the original structure by a breezeway, was not affected by the fire but had its electricity disconnected.

Viener said he has a generator and can, for the time being, stay at the house with the dogs. Long term? He’s not sure.

via Fire destroys part of greyhound rescue facility | Gwinnett Daily Post.