UPDATE: Most dogs rescued from North Las Vegas fire reclaimed by owners

UPDATE OCT. 9: The Animal Foundation says many of the bulldogs rescued from a fire at a North Las Vegas home in September are no longer at the shelter.

A spokesperson says more than half of the dogs have been reclaimed by their owners, though she did not have an exact number of dogs remaining.

ORIGINAL STORY
NORTH LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- North Las Vegas firefighters saved a woman and her one-month-old baby from a fire this morning at 3324 Beca Faith Drive near Cheyenne Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Firefighters say smoke was pouring from the home when they arrived. Firefighters found the woman and her child hiding in a closet.

Also, they found more than 40 dogs on the property. The dogs were located in the backyard and garage.

The dogs are currently being cared for by the Animal Foundation.

13 Action News talked to people in the neighborhood who said they had no idea that there were so many dogs at the home.

According to the law, there can only be 3 dogs, 3 cats and 3 ferrets at any one location or residence.

Karen Layne with the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society says that having that many pets can cause health issues for both the humans and animals in the residence.

Layne sees this case a potential hoarding situation and gives one reason why people may keep so many animals as pets.

"We normally see this happen after a people have experienced a loss and they don't have that support structure or they don't feel like they have a support structure that they can turn to."

Layne also provided the following advice:

"They really need to seek help or ask for help and there's help available out there. The Las Vegas Humane Society and other organizations."

The dogs appear to be in pretty good shape. There's no word yet on what will happen to them.

Damage to the home is estimated at $200,000.