After a Christmas Eve house fire, Tracy Graham of Summit Township, right, sits Tuesday at the home of Carolyn Gaiser, center, who is housing her dogs while she rebuilds her home. After the fire, Graham's dogs were kept by a member of the Butler County Animal Rescue Team while Graham found a place for her pets.

SUMMIT TWP — Tracy Graham huddled in her car with her three, large dogs as a devastating fire destroyed her family home Christmas Eve.

Although no people were hurt, a fourth pet — a 5-month-old coonhound named Princess — died, and the family was left temporarily homeless.

Graham, in shock and overwhelmed by the circumstances, said at that moment she had no idea where she would spend the night, let alone her surviving pets.

The American Red Cross put the family up in a local motel for the night. And a member of the Butler County Animal Rescue Team, or CART, provided the dogs a home for the few days it took the family to find a more permanent solution.

“They were a lifesaver,” Graham said of the CART team. “We're so thankful that once we get situated, we want to volunteer as foster parents for the team to repay all the people who've been so generous to us. ... We want to let other people know that when you are really down to nothing, there's always hope.”

The CART team, in the works for years, took its first pet emergency dispatch call Oct. 7.

Barb Karner, a veterinarian from Clay Township and coordinator of the team, said since then it has been called six times.

Team members needed to make physical responses in only three of those cases. In the other cases, the affected pet owners made arrangements with friends and family.

“Even under these circumstances, it's really difficult for people to give their pets up to strangers,” Karner said.

In cases where a response was needed, the team gave temporary shelter to a total of six pets, all dogs.

Karner said team members are never happy to see tragic circumstances, but they are glad officials have started calling on their services.

Police, firefighters and everyday people who experience emergencies involving domestic animals should call 911 for the team's assistance.

“I'm tickled that they are there, and they are providing an excellent service,” said Frank Matis, Butler County Emergency Services director.

Group members are prepared to foster all sorts of pets, including cats, dogs, reptiles and alpacas.

Butler's CART has a trailer to haul equipment that is similar to hazardous materials trailers. It has a large animal rescue glide, 50 halters, first aid kits for animals, a microchip scanner and “go-bags,” which contain items like leashes, flashlights and vests, in their individual vehicles.

To date, all of the team's responses involved house fires, Karner said. And all those pets already have been returned.

Graham, for example, said she found a friend to take in her dogs as her family begins rebuilding their home at 948 Herman Road.

Molly, a 13-year-old chocolate lab, and Rottweilers Boopie and Buffy also suffered some stress in loosing their home, Graham noted of the pets' weight loss in the days following the fire.

“It was devastating,” she said. “I'm just thankful we all still have each other.”

In addition to fostering animals, Graham said her family also plans get another puppy.

“My husband and I talked about it,” she said. “And we decided, the more the merrier.”