Firefighter: Dozens of puppies survive pet shop fire

Firefighters rescued more than two dozen puppies from fire danger earlier this week after a 35-year-old Las Vegas woman tried to set fire to her pet store on Rainbow Boulevard just south of the Las Vegas Beltway, a fire official said late Friday.

Gloria Lee was charged with first-degree arson in connection with the single-structure blaze, which was reported at 12:55 a.m. Monday at Prince and Princess Pet Boutique, 6870 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 104, according to Clark County Battalion Chief John Steinbeck.

The motive behind the arson, which caused $100,000 in damage, was not immediately clear. But Steinbeck said the 28 puppies could have died had it not been for the sprinkler system inside the pet store and the quick action of firefighters, who “knocked down the fire” after the sprinklers helped put out some of the flames.

“It’s an ongoing investigation,” Steinbeck said.

The puppies are currently being housed at Lied Animal Shelter, said the Animal Foundation’s Meghan Scheibe. They are on an indefinite hold while the investigation continues.

Reporter Annalise Porter contributed to this story.