Fire department investigators in Gulfport, Mississippi say a gas explosion that nearly decimated a house there last week can be blamed on a dog.

The local fire chief says the homeowner's puppy got its collar stuck on an unused laundry-room gas valve, which happened to be the same exact height as the pup's collar, WLOX reported.

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The dog is thought to have rubbed up against the valve, opening it, which allowed gas to stream through a vent and into the attic.

A water heater or furnace then clicked on, igniting the explosion, WLOX reported.

The AP notes the homeowner and her three children were not home at the time of the explosion, which blew a hole in the side of the house.

Firefighters rescued all four dogs from the home.

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People join a rally in support for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees on Tuesday afternoon, April 1, 2025, at the Atlanta headquarters after federal cuts triggered significant layoffs. (Photo: Jenni Girtman for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

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