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Dog Saved From Dunedin Blast In Critical Condition

News Channel 8 photo by TODD DAVIS

Jingles is under constant watch at Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa.

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By MARK DOUGLAS

News Channel 8

Published: February 12, 2009

TAMPA - A dog that was trapped under burning debris in a Dunedin house explosion Wednesday is in critical but stable condition today with burns, respiratory trouble and possible internal blast injuries.

Rescuers say the American Eskimo dog, named Jingles, may have been trapped for as long as 30 minutes before he was rescued.

The dog's owner, Duane Arlyn Cole, 46, was found in the backyard at 1524 Michigan Blvd. He was taken to Tampa General Hospital by helicopter with non-life-threatening injuries.

Jingles was transported from the Animal Hospital of Dunedin to Florida Veterinary Specialists in Tampa on Wednesday afternoon. The dog is under constant watch in the intensive care unit.

How the dog heals in the next 24 to 48 hours will likely determine whether he survives, caregivers say.

"Based on what we're seeing, basically it's amazing he's still even with us," said critical care veterinarian Miryam Reems.

Jingles suffered burns over portions of his body, legs and paws.

"Smoke inhalation, that by itself is bad enough, and the burns, but when you're talking about a patient that's been involved in a blast injury … then we're also worried about traumatic brain injury," Reems said.

"We still have some room to move as far as him being out of the woods," she said.

It's not clear how much the dog's intensive care is costing or who will pay for it. The Suncoast Animal League rescued the dog initially and is underwriting some of the expense of keeping him alive.

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