PRINCETON  — A Minnesota hunting dog breeder and trainer says he feels like he lost his family after 23 dogs were killed in a fire that destroyed his barn and kennels.

John Kim said it’s difficult to look at the charred rubble of what remains of his livelihood. Compounding his misery is a lack of insurance for the property he lost.

Kim moved to Minnesota 40 years ago from South Korea.

He began breeding and raising German Shorthaired Pointers, English Setters and French Brittany Spaniels and delivering them to buyers in his native country.

Kim says it will be difficult to tell his customers in South Korea who are waiting for a dog about what happened. KMSP-TV (http://bit.ly/OhQwhp ) reports fire officials have estimated the property loss in last week’s fire at $80,000.