Fire Destroys Jacksonville Humane Society
The Jacksonville Humane Society was destroyed by a massive fire on Saturday, April 7, 2007. I have found conflicting information online as to the exact number of deaths due to the fire but nearly all of the cats perished when the roof collapsed on the cat area.
According to a local source who I spoke with on the telephone today, there were 176 animals at the shelter when the fire broke out. 100 were cats and 95 of the cats died. Most of the dogs survived.
Obviously donations are needed to rebuild. You can make an online donation, or you can make a cash donation at any Wachovia Bank branch. Please reference account number 2000034081857 and the Jacksonville Humane Society Fire Rescue. They are also accepting cash donations at their thrift shop.
8328 Beach Blvd.
Jacksonville, Fl 32216
While this story would be tragic no matter where it happened, it is especially upsetting to us here at MuttCats.com. Karel Bergstrom, the author of the Adventures of Runner series on our website and a dear friend of mine, adopted Runner at this very shelter. Runner went to the bridge on September 5, 2006.
Karel tells me that she smelled the smoke and heard the sirens but did not know at the time that it was the animal shelter.
News Stories :
- Jacksonville Humane Society Recovering After Devastating Fire
- Dozens of animals killed in Jacksonville Humane Society fire
- Humane Society looks to the future
There are also three videos posted at YouTube:
- Ladder 10 at The Jacksonville Humane Society Fire
- Ladder 10 at The Jacksonville Humane Society Fire II
- Ladder 10 at The Jacksonville Humane Society Fire III
Filed under: News
I was awake then, early this past Saturday morning, around 2am. I was curled up on my comfortable couch, my three kitties surrounding me, watching a movie on television. The slider doors were cracked open to let in the cool breeze and all four of us were as happy as could be.
I heard the sirens first, but this is an urban area and there are always sirens. A little while later, I smelled smoke. The breeze brought in what I thought was someone barbecuing! At that time of the morning? The sirens didn’t stop and the smell got worse.
It wasn’t until hours later that I found out what happened.
The Jacksonville Humane Society had caught on fire. The firefighters were able to get the dogs out, but the fire probably started in the laundry room, next to the cat quarters. 100 cats were housed in the no-kill shelter.
I’ve seen where a lot of people had said that they hoped the cats were overcome by smoke first, but I doubt it. The flaming roof fell in on them, killing all but five. 95 precious souls were burned alive.
That shelter has been there as long as I can remember. Its only about one mile from my mom’s house, where I grew up. I used to volunteer there, until I moved away. Its seven miles away from where I live now. Only last year they went to being a no-kill shelter and the cat section was beautiful. They had fixed it to look like one large living room with many couches and comfy chairs. That way the potential adopters could interact with the cats, just as if they were in their own home.
The last cat that I had adopted from them was my Runner, who just passed away this past September. She was 16 years old and had the most beautiful personality. In her honor, I’m writing this to beg everyone to please, please, if you have one dollar to spare, send it to the Jacksonville Humane Society.
I’ll never forget this past Saturday morning. I’ll never forget the smell of those poor babies burning. In my mind I hear them screaming in fright and pain as the ceiling above them burst into flames and came down on them.
Please don’t let their suffering be for nothing. If there’s any way you can help them rebuild, please do. It was a good shelter with many loving, caring workers. They need to rebuild and re-open.You can even make an online donation.
http://www.jaxhumane.org/
Online Donations
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/JacksonvilleHumaneSociety/OnlineGiving.html
The latest count is now:
71 Cats
24 dogs
They lost all of their computers and the back ups, so that’s why they weren’t sure of the count.
71 is much better than 95, but its still a horror.
Such a horrible tragedy. So many lost, innocent lives to go to the Rainbow Bridge too soon. Hugs to Karel, who is still mourning the loss of her beautiful friend Runner.
On the weekend news yesterday, they were talking about the Humane Society. They especially mentioned how so many people wanted to adopt the survivors of the fire.
Why?
Where were these people a couple of weeks ago? Why, if they have the resources for a pet, or an addition to their pet family, didn’t they adopt an animal then?
Do they want a companion? Or bragging rights. Would they love and care for it? Or do they want the poor animal so they can tell their friends what a great thing they did.
Hopefully, the staff will recognize which is which.
It was the saddest story I’ve heard in my life. I live in Colorado and when I heard the news I died inside. All those precious innocent animals, those sweet cats. I can’t imagine what it was like for anyone to wake up to that news. My heart goes out not only to the lost lives but to the broken hearts of the employees of the shelter.
Peace
you have some nerve to want to rebuild another cat unit where all those cats died
WHAT? I cannot believe I just read this. Sharon, you, my friend, have some nerve to write that comment here. WHAT is wrong with you??? All of these people, and all the people involved with that shelter want to help animals in ANY way that they can. Why do you have to come here and take a shot at them? The last thing they or anyone needs is someone like you tainting this post with your weird twisted logic. Get over yourself and if you have these thoughts, fine - just go away and think them by yourself. I for one will be donating all I can so that these people can build another facility to help animals.
I think what your friend Sharon means is that they are brave for wanting to rebuild the cat center; shes not saying in a rude sense, shes saying it in a complimentary tone. I think what she means by “you have some nerve” is “you are respectable” for wanting to rebuild the cat center over where those other cats died.