Pet Shop Owner Jailed in Arson Case; 27 Pups Saved

The owner of a business in Las Vegas has been charged with trying to burn her place down to collect insurance. But the reason Gloria Eun Hye Lee's case is getting so much attention is because her business happens to be a pet shop, and there were 27 puppies inside when the fire started, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In fact, police say surveillance video shows Lee letting a man into her shop who then splashes kerosene on the occupied puppy cages. Amazingly, all the dogs survived: The sprinklers kicked in, and firefighters were on the scene quickly to rescue the puppies.

Lee had been free on $40,000 bail, but a judge today jacked her bail to $310,000 and she was taken into custody, reports AP. She faces charges of arson, burglary and conspiracy, plus 27 counts of attempted animal cruelty—one for each puppy. Animal-rights activists protested outside the courthouse as the hearing took place. The puppies, incidentally, are doing fine at a local animal shelter. “We’ve had calls from people all over the city asking if they can adopt them," a worker tells the Review-Journal. (More Las Vegas stories.)