Firefighters perform CPR on cats and dogs after pet store blaze

Loving firefighters in east China did their utmost to rescue over 20 cats and dogs from a burning pet store, news portal anhuinews.com reported on Monday.

The store in Hefei, Anhui Province, caught fire in the early morning, trapping over 20 animals on May 31. 

When firemen arrived at the scene, weak cries from small animals came from the locked store. Firefighters soon cut the door open to gain access.

Some firemen got to work putting out the fire, while others rushed into the store to bring the animals out.

After inhaling large amount of smoke, some of the animals had already lost consciousness and some even appeared to be dying.

Firefighters immediately took measures including performing CPR, attaching respirators and cleaning their mouths and noses carefully.

Thanks to the work of firemen at the scene, only three dogs died in the incident, a number which would have been much bigger.