A Grand Bay dog breeder lost 19 of 31 dogs in a fire in mid-January, but thanks to the efforts of a Pensacola rescue, five who survived, but were badly injured, have a fighting chance.

The owners of Dodade Kennel in Grand Bay, which specializes in breeding Shih Tzus, awoke about 12:30 a.m. on Jan. 18 to discover a building which housed multiple kennels was fully engulfed in flames.

“We lost 20 dogs,” the owner wrote to Facebook hours later. “We watched them and couldn’t do a thing to help them. I have smoke inhalation, burns on my face and lips. My nephew has smoke inhalation, burns on his face and chest. We were only able to save the 11 we saved (because) of his bravery and I’m so proud of him.”

But the woman’s pride in her nephew was overwhelmed by her grief.

“My heart is absolutely shattered… really our entire family and community,” she wrote.

She would learn a new barn-rated heated she had purchased to keep the dogs warm had caught the wooden structure on fire.

Of the 11 who survived the fire, six were badly injured. At the breeder’s request, five of them have been taken in by A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue in Pensacola, according to the Pensacola News Journal.

“All the burn babies are with me because there are so many vet appointments and it makes since all five of them have to come up here,” the rescue’s Francine Armstrong told the newspaper.

Each of the five — Puddin’, Pie, Farrah, Rex, and Busy — have severe burns where burning parts of the roof likely fell on them. Busy also lost an eye in the fire and, unknown to the breeder, Pie survived the fire, but spent days hiding without treatment until she was found.

Puddin’s injuries are the worst, according to the rescue, with third degree burns over nearly half her body. Armstrong said about 40% of Puddin’s skin came off during the first surgery.

“Getting all that dead stuff off her was traumatic looking, but now she’s just in the healing process,” she told the Journal.

Coastal Sunrise Animal Hospital in Pensacola is providing treatment for the five dogs and are consulting with burn specialists. Veterinarian Melanie Schroeder told the Journal the burns are the worst she’s seen in 11 years in practice.

The dogs wear infant onesies to provide protection for their wounds and bandages.

Armstrong raised $6,000 online for the dogs’ care, but that money is nearly gone. The rescue estimates another $5,000 will be needed to the dogs’ continued care. Those interested in donating, or interested in adopting once they’ve healed, can contact Coastal Sunrise Animal Hospital or A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue.

“They’re really doing well and have already come a long way,” Armstrong told the Journal.