ARSONIST SETS BRITISH DOG SHELTER ON FIRE - 43 ANIMALS CONFIRMED DEAD. One suspect apprehended

'Arson' attack on Manchester Dogs' Home kills at least 43 animals as heroes storm building to save up to 150 pups, and hundreds turn up to offer homes and blankets.

Distraught neighbours heard yelping from Manchester Dogs' Home kennels

30 firefighters on scene as hundreds of locals offered homes and blankets 

Two dog-lovers risked lives to run into the building and save 20 animals

'It's part of our childhoods. Of course we are going to run in there', said one 

Around 150 survived the fire and were transferred to centre in Cheshire

More than 10,000 well-wishers raised more than £110,000 in just five hours

RSPCA has 18 inspectors on the ground carrying out triage on the animals 

14-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of arson and is being questioned 

Daily Mail - Police confirmed 43 dogs had died in the fire and it was not yet known how many were injured.   Crews remained on the scene tonight as firefighters said 150 animals had been saved in total. The kennels have capacity for up to 400.

 

The survivors will all be transferred to the charity's sister rescue centre on the outskirts of Warrington, Cheshire.

 

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately sparking the fire at the charity rehoming centre in Harpurhey, Manchester. (Report continues below)

UPDATE - Is this related to a gruesome find in August of a bag full of cats' heads in Manchester?  See link to that report at the bottom of this news item. 
And more UPDATES posted daily. 
(Also see the Manchester Evening News donation site.  They need to rebuild.)

 

Flames engulfed the building and smoke could be seen by thousands of residents on the outskirts of the city. 

 

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 worker with one of the survivors

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.  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. 

 

Desperate to help, hundreds gathered

The charity's employees were also seen cradling dogs in their arms as they rescued the animals from the building.

 

But 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: 'At the moment 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.   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'. 

People donating dog supplies

One volunteer, who was too upset to give her name, said she had been told that little remained of the dogs' home, which she believed was almost completely destroyed in the fire.  She 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.'

 

The RSPCA has 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 at present. 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.'

 

The Manchester & District Home for Lost Dogs was founded in 1893 by businessmen concerned about stray dogs roaming the city, then the heart of the Industrial Revolution.  Once in a rural spot, the rest of the city grew around the centre and it is now surrounded by homes, describing itself as an 'inner-city' centre, and has a sister rehoming centre near Warrington, Cheshire.   

The charity says it takes in more than 7,000 dogs every year, many of which are never reclaimed by their owners and require emotional and physical support after abuse or neglect. 

Dogs are then usually made available for adoption, with more than 250 often awaiting a home at any one time.

 

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:

The fundraising campaign through dog selfies
 http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/manchester-dog-home-arson-dog-selfies.html

You can follow the latest news on this tragic event on the Manchester Evening News
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/

RELATED?

MANCHESTER OTHER RECENT ANIMAL ABUSE STORY

August 2014 - Bin bag full of cats' heads found close to Manchester's Curry Mile: Urgent inquiry launched after sickening discovery

A bin bag containing severed cats' heads was found dumped on a street near Manchester's famous Curry Mile.

Council bosses in Manchester have launched an urgent investigation and the RSPCA is being contacted.

 

Read more - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2727281/Bin-bag-cats-heads-close-Manchesters-Curry-Mile-Urgent-inquiry-launched-sickening-discovery.html

Updates

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 aftermath - Toll rises to 53 dogs victims of arson attack
An outpouring of public generosity.  And the heroes who rescued many dogs.
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/09/aftermath-of-dog-home-arson-attack-in.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On the Manchester Evening News

Interview with Dog Home manager, Lisa Graham.

Manchester Evening News - Speaking at the scene today, she said: “You could never imagine that something like this would happen. I am lost for words really.  We had staff going into the building under police and fire service escort. It was almost like a chain of people moving the dogs out to safety.  The dogs are our priority and will continue to be our priority. We were moving dogs out last night all night and haven’t really had a chance to look around yet."  Donations for rebuilding will be appreciated.

 

Lisa added: “To the people of Manchester – thank you is not enough. We cannot find the words.”

 

Bernie Quinn, who works at the nearby Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home charity shop, said: “The response has been quite unbelievable. Lots of people have been in tears.”

Read more and see videos of interview and of aerial view of the site site.
 http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-dogs-home-manager-we-7760746

Those nightmare scenes will live with me forever: Manchester Dogs' Home rescue hero tells of horror

rescue hero has told how he battled through choking black smoke to reach trapped dogs inside the burning Manchester Dogs' Home.

Colin Ballance, a key holder who helps out at the home, lives nearby in Harpurhey and was the first on the scene with another neighbour.  He remembers dragging two cross-breed dogs to safety, but said there was little anyone could do to save the animals that perished – a scene he described as like a ‘disaster zone’.
Colin, 59, said: “It was about ten past seven and I was watching television.  “A neighbour came banging on my door and said the dogs’ home was on fire. I just legged it down to the area where the fire was. I forced the door open and got two dogs out.  The dogs were very lucky and that was it.”

Colin told how he and the neighbour let dogs out into an outdoor run and kennel area before they were beaten back by the smoke.  By the time we got as many dogs into an outdoor kennel as we could, the smoke was choking.  You just couldn’t see. There was nothing we could do.”

The fire service said today that the extent of the damage caused to the building was still being assessed, but Colin said it was badly damaged. 

He said: “It was awful. All the double glazing was smashed. The roof trusses have gone. It is just a disaster zone.  It is anyone’s worst nightmare who works at a dogs’ home and I have been here for 25 years.  I guess we just need to wait and see what the full extent of the damage is, but those scenes will live with me forever.”

More than £500,000 has so far been donated after the Manchester Evening News (M.E.N.) set up a JustGiving page in the aftermath of the fire.

You can donate through the M.E.N.  here.

Meanwhile, the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Coun Susan Cooley, is expected to visit the site tomorrow.

Watch interview - http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/those-nightmare-scenes-live-forever-7760941

 

***************************************************************************