Genesismemorialglass’s Weblog

Fire at Animal Hospital…They need your help!
Current mood: hopeful
Category: Pets and Animals

Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary~A no kill facility here in our home town suffered a devastating fire in the early morning hours of March 14.  The fire killed 14 cats, and another 38 animals were rescued through heroic efforts by Jupiter police and Palm Beach County firefighters.

Jupiter officers were dispatched to the shelter at Seagrape Square at 3:28 a.m. when a panic alarm went off at the animal clinic. Police believe it was cats loose inside that set off the panic alarm.

Three officers arrived at the scene to find smoke billowing out from the inside of the building. When they noticed dogs trying to get out, the officers took out their batons and smashed through the glass storefront.

The commotion scared away the dogs, which ran toward the back of the building, Jupiter police spokesman Sgt. Scott Pascarella said.

Firefighters and more police officers rushed to the site. They formed a human chain to ferry the pets out.

Safe Harbor’s founder Kay-Lynette Roca said she arrived at the shelter to find the parking lot flooded with fire trucks, patrol cars and cages.

“It was a horrifying but amazing thing to see,” Roca said in between conversations with her staff, town officials and people offering help.

The fire broke out at the hospital’s front lobby, Palm Beach Fire Rescue spokesman Don DeLucia said, but officials are still investigating the cause.

Safe Harbor is perhaps best known for its well-established no-kill shelter that’s been around for eight years. Its mission is to help abandoned, neglected and abused animals.

At last count, the organization had 61 dogs and 200 cats in its care, Roca said.

Although the fire had been devastating, for Roca the biggest concern was how to re-open the hospital. It is the shelter’s main source of income, and without it, Safe Harbor loses between $5,000 to $6,000 a day, Roca said.

By 10:30 a.m., about 40 dogs from the shelter adjacent to the hospital had found temporary homes with animal lovers who had flocked to Safe Harbor after hearing about the fire. The shelter needed to be emptied out because it sustained some smoke damage, and would need to be used as a staging area to rebuild the hospital.

And while hospital staff cried and consoled each other with hugs, Roca received some heartening news.

A man wrote a check out for $25,000. A board member offered $10,000. And residents of Admiral’s Cove pledged $20,000 to rebuild the hospital.

“People are coming out of the woodwork, God bless them,” Roca said.

Genesis Memorial Glass is sponsoring a fund raiser for the shelter! 

For every donation made your name is entered into a drawing to Win one of their beautiful hand blown glass pendants valued at $135.00.  Donations are made through pay pal and Genesis Memorial Glass.  All proceeds will benefit Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary and Hospital! 

Donate today!