Colerain family rescues dozens of ferrets, rabbits, rats after house fire

CINCINNATI - A Colerain Township family ended up with dozens of homeless animals Thursday night that were rescued from a Mt. Healthy house fire.

The woman whose home caught fire, Nikki Hagaman, volunteers at the Animal House, a pet store located down the street from her in Mt. Healthy. She takes in animals when the store runs out of room.

After the fire Animal House couldn't take care of all of the rescued animals, which is why they ended up a few miles away at the Charles residence.
    
Adam Charles, his wife Kristy and their family heard about the fire on 9 News and immediately went to the pet store to see how they could help.
     
Since Charles and his family are veterans of previous dog and raccoon rescues, they ended up bringing home almost three dozen pets, including ferrets, guinea pigs, 12 rats and a whole bunch of rabbits and bunnies.

Their dining room table has turned into a giant pet hotel for the fire survivors.
         
The children and some of their friends are pitching in to help care for the animals, who seem to be adjusting well to the temporary surroundings. That includes two giant rabbits that were brought out from a bedroom.

"They're adjusting well. Everyone is as friendly and lovable as can be. They just want to lay around and love on you, and they just want affection," he said.

The family has two guinea pigs and two dogs of their own, including an adorable pug who doesn't quite know what to do with his new neighbors.

"We had some unexpected things like a rat that had a broken back. Ferrets that are coughing and sneezing from inhaling too much smoke. From what we were told that place was filled with smoke, so for them breathing all that in wasn't the best thing," added Charles.

Ultimately, Charles says he wants to adopt out all these stranded animals to good homes.
      
In the meantime, he's looking for food, bedding and bigger cages and play areas for the more active animals, like the ferrets.

If you'd like to help with supplies or food for the new pets, you can call Adam Charles at (513) 288-3494.