Outpouring of support after fire damages Cape Town animal shelter

Staff at Tears Animal Rescue in Cape Town thanked the public for donations and support after a fire destroyed several kennels but spared all staff and animals.

Jonathan Wood/Getty Images

A fire damaged kennels at Tears Animal Rescue on Thursday.An outpouring of support is helping the organisation rebuild the damaged areas.No dogs were harmed in the fire,due to the quick action of the staff.Staff at a Cape Town animal shelter were moved by an outpouring of support after a fire gutted several kennels at their premises.

While no staff or animals were injured in the fire,it has left a significant dent in the services Tears Animal Rescue is able to offer.

Tears head of funding and marketing Tinka Shapiro said the fire broke out just after 05:00 on Thursday morning. Staff responded to the incident immediately,alerting Fire and Rescue Services,and were able to move the dogs housed at the kennels out of danger.

“We started checking on the dogs and found that the fire was coming from next door. It had come through the fence,and one of the Wendy houses was totally on fire already. We started removing the dogs that were at the fence,about 10 dogs in the end,from their kennels,” she said.

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“The fire department was on scene shortly after we managed to get the dogs out. When we were checking on the other kennels to make sure there was nothing that we’d missed,and to make sure each dog was accounted for,the fire department was already putting out the fire. They brought it under control relatively quickly.”

However,four Wendy houses,kennels and fencing were destroyed,Shapiro said.

She said:

We were very lucky that the smoke was going straight up,so neither human nor animal suffered any smoke inhalation.

“But it was frightening. What goes through your head is that you’ve got to think about how bad it could get in terms of the fact that you could end up in a place where animals burn into death. And because we’re always at capacity,and have as many dogs in the kennels as we have space for,we now have a challenge due to losing that housing.”

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View this post on InstagramA post shared by TEARS Animal Rescue (@tearsanimalrescue)The Wendy houses “provide a safety haven while our dogs wait for their forever families”,according to Tears.The organisation called for donations of roofing sheets,pavers,vibracrete walling and bedding. Almost immediately,donations and support started pouring in,said Shapiro.“We are so grateful for our amazing community! Whether you donated funds,building materials,blankets,or beds - your kindness has made all the difference. Because of you,we’ve been able to start cleaning up the damaged kennels and take the first steps toward rebuilding. We couldn’t have done it without you,” Tears posted on their social media channels.READ | Cape Town animal shelter flooded after rains,NSRI steps in - but help still needed“But we still need you,With some kennels affected by the fire,a few of our dogs are in urgent need of foster homes while we bring their spaces back to life. If you can open your heart and home,temporarily,you’ll be giving them the safety and love they need right now.”View this post on InstagramA post shared by TEARS Animal Rescue (@tearsanimalrescue)Tears was founded in 1999,to carry out sterilisations,vaccinations and parasite treatment in Masiphumelele.The organisation now rescues dogs and cats,and continues outreach work in communities like Masiphumelele,Ocean View,Capricorn,Seawinds and Vrygrond.It runs both a veterinary clinic and mobile clinic.