Incredible generosity of well-wishers sees animal charity hit by arson attack in which 53 dogs died overwhelmed with food donations as £750,000 is pledged in online #dogselfies campaign
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| Traumatized survivor |
Extraordinary amounts of donated food, beds and blankets are piling up for survivors of an alleged arson attack that ripped through one of Britain's largest dog homes and killed 53 animals.
Shocking aerial pictures today reveal the damage caused after a teenager allegedly torched Manchester Dogs' Home last night.
The tragedy has sparked an extraordinary outpouring of generosity, with pet-lovers donating £750,000 in the hours since the blaze to help care for survivors and repair the home.
Grief-stricken dog owners have emptied their cupboards or the shelves at nearby supermarkets as they deliver food and items like blankets to the 150 survivors. Others have also posted #dogselfies with their own pets and made donations in remembrance of the animals who died.
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| Generous outpouring of donations |
Heroic animal-lovers ran into the burning building at the height of the fire to rescue at least 150 dogs and more than 200 gathered outside to comfort and rehome the pets.
More than 50,000 people have donated more than £750,000 in just over 18 hours through three fundraising pages - around £500 per minute since the fire.
A 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of deliberately sparking the fire at the charity rehoming centre in Harpurhey, Manchester.
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| One of he lucky survivors |
Flames engulfed the building and smoke could be seen by thousands of residents in the city.
Speaking at a press conference at the scene today, Detective Inspector Neil Jones said: 'Last night a local neighbourhood officer was passing and saw a plume of smoke coming up from the dogs home and responded really quickly, as did a vast number of the local community and the fire service.'
Speaking at a press conference at the scene today, Detective Inspector Neil Jones said: 'Last night a local neighbourhood officer was passing and saw a plume of smoke coming up from the dogs home and responded really quickly, as did a vast number of the local community and the fire service.'
The officer said: 'The public reaction immediately and overnight has been really, really overwhelming. We're really, really grateful for the response that we've had.'
Mr Jones said: 'I'm treating it as an arson investigation at the moment based on the extent of the fire and the initial outpouring from the community and some of the information we've been provided with so far.' He said the centre was made up of a series of buildings one of which had been completely destroyed.
Station Commander Paul Duggan, from Greater Manchester Fire Service, said: 'A number of the local people had made an attempt to try and rescue the dogs because, obviously, they could hear them in some distress.
'So what firefighters were met with was a fire in a fairly large building with some measure of security, so we had to break into that. You've also then got a number of dogs that were agitated and, obviously, when a dog's in pain it may bite you, so you've got that risk. And, also, you've got a number of members of the public doing a very charitable thing, trying to help the dogs, but obviously it's a risk to them.'
Mr Duggan said: 'All-in-all a fairly complex and complicated and, also, harrowing incident.'
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| Jason Dyer (L) and Dean Rostock (R) - Heroes |
Jason Dyer, 41, and his nephew Dean Rostock, 25, jumped over the fence into the dogs' home at the height of the blaze and kicked open kennel doors after hearing dogs barking in panic.
Between them the pair rescued around 20 dogs, putting leads on them and bringing them to safety before tying them to a nearby fence.
A petition has begun online calling for the two men to receive an award for their bravery, supported by celebrities including the magician Dynamo.
Mr Dyer said: 'All the windows of where the dogs are advertised for sale were blown out and the ceiling was collapsed.
'We initially ran into the bit that was on fire but we couldn't get those dogs out. We went to the other kennels and began kicking out the doors. We just wanted to get them out.
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| Survivor Eva with Holly Parkin |
'This place is part of our childhoods. We both have dogs and love dogs - of course we are going to run in there. We just wanted to make sure as many as possible would be okay.'
Extraordinary scenes unfolded as strangers volunteered to form human chains to pass blankets and food into waiting vehicles. So many people arrived that roads around the centre were gridlocked. The charity's employees were also seen cradling dogs in their arms as they rescued the animals from the building.
Despite the fire being extinguished, the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service asked members of the public to stay away. 'Some members of public turning up at the dogs home trying to help,' a spokesman tweeted. 'Please stay away while crews deal with incident.'
A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said late last night: 'It is confirmed that 43 dogs are dead and it is unknown how many are injured.'
He added that the force had been inundated with calls from devastated animal-lovers offering homes to any surviving dogs. 'We are having lots of offers of help from the public, which is really nice,' he said. 'At the moment we don't know what help will be needed but it is great that so many people are coming forward.'
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Duggan said some parts of the roof of the single-storey kennel section had collapsed. Firefighters remained on the scene making it safe before assessing the full damage. About a third of the kennels building is thought to be damaged.
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| AN ACT OF PURE EVIL |
Neighbours reported seeing wisps of smoke before the whole building rapidly went up in flames.
Anna Stansfield, manager of the charity's sister home in Cheshire, described the blaze as 'soul destroying' and added all the rescued dogs would be transferred to the sister site.
Pictures of the blaze were posted on social media by concerned people living near to the long-established dogs' home, which has capacity to care for 400 dogs.
Residents said they could hear 'dogs yelping'. One volunteer said: 'I come and walk the dogs here as a volunteer. I'm absolutely devastated at what's happened. I've been crying for two hours. It is just desperate. We need everything.'
Paul Menzies, the manager for building suppliers Jewson in Widnes, Cheshire, offered to donate materials to help rebuild the centre.
The RSPCA had 18 inspectors on the ground carrying out triage on the animals before they are moved to other sites.
A spokesman said: 'It is heartbreaking what has happened to Manchester Dogs' Home today and our thoughts go out to the staff and volunteers.
'A terrible event like this does show what a nation of animal lovers we are, and there has been a flood of support from the local community. Animal rescues are working side-by-side to help the 150 animals that have, thankfully, been saved.
'Because the rescue is still ongoing at present there is still not a clear idea of how many more animals have survived, and so it is not yet known how many dogs may need to go to other rescues outside of Manchester Dogs Home's existing network, or be fostered.
'We are advising people who want to offer help and support to keep an eye out for updates as they become available in the coming days.
'The RSPCA has a team of around 18 currently in attendance at the fire site, helping to transport animals once they have been cleared for travel by vets. We will continue to assist in any way we can.'
A Battersea Dogs & Cats Home spokesman said it was 'incredibly saddened' to learn of the fire, adding: 'We extend our deepest sympathies to all the staff and volunteers at the centre. We understand this tragic incident may have led to the loss of life of several rescue dogs. Battersea is very willing to help in any way we can over the coming days and weeks and we have attempted contact with the Manchester rescue centre to see how we can support them at this difficult time.'
Manchester & Cheshire Dogs Home, a registered charity, launched in 1893 and has rehomed more than a million dogs.
Alongside the Manchester Dogs' Home which caught fire last night, it runs the Cheshire Dogs' Home on the outskirts of Warrington.
Superintendent Marcus Noden, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'We are working closely with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to establish how this tragedy has occurred.
'We are in the very early stages of the investigation and have a young boy in custody, however we would ask if anyone was in the area and remembers seeing anything suspicious around the dogs' home that they call police and tell us what they know.
'As a dog owner myself I understand that many people will feel angry and upset about what has happened but I would ask that they let the police carry out their investigations and not take matters into their own hands.'
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: 'One hundred and fifty dogs rescued. Thousands of pounds donated. Thank you Greater Manchester.'
Among those donating on the home's JustGiving account were Dominic Hunt who wrote: 'Heartbreaking. I wish I could give more' and Susan and Leanne Gresty, who said: 'There are no words to describe the sadness we are feeling for the poor little animals who have lost their lives and those that are suffering tonight.'
Singer Jodie Prenger, a patron for Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home, tweeted: 'All my thoughts are with you guys. It's broke my heart to hear such sad news.'
Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said it was 'incredibly saddened' to learn of the fire. A spokeswoman said: 'We extend our deepest sympathies to all the staff and volunteers at the centre.
'We understand this tragic incident may have led to the loss of life of several rescue dogs.
'Battersea is very willing to help in any way we can over the coming days and weeks and we have attempted contact with the Manchester rescue centre to see how we can support them at this difficult time.'
References:
Source - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2752769/Boy-14-arrested-40-dogs-die-suspected-arson-attack-animal-charity-s-rehoming-centre-Manchester.html
More reports on this blog
Suspect in arson had stayed around during the fire to enjoy the thrill of the drama
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/suspect-arrested-in-arson-of-manchester.html
Fundraising campaign through dog selfies
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/manchester-dog-home-arson-dog-selfies.html
The fire and public reaction
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/arsonist-sets-british-dog-shelter-on.html
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