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Manchester Evening News helps raise £750,000 after fire destroyed dogs home
Manchester Evening News helps raise £750,000 after fire destroyed dogs home
(about 1 hour later)
Donations have poured in for Manchester Dogs’ Home after a fire ripped through the premises, killing at least 53 dogs last night.
Donations have poured in for Manchester Dogs’ Home after a fire ripped through the premises, killing at least 53 dogs last night.
A JustGiving page set up by the Manchester Evening News yesterday evening has already raised nearly half a million pounds for the dogs' home with more than 36,000 individual donations.
Pictures emerged this afternoon of images of the gutted Manchester rehoming centre, which was allegedly torched by a teenager last night, as police open an investigation into the cause of the fire.
There are another two fundraising pages which have also raised £3,000 and over £4,000 respectively.
A JustGiving page set up by the Manchester Evening News yesterday has raised nearly a million pounds for the dogs' home.
Earlier today the home tweeted: “Words are not enough. Thank you everyone, you have touched our hearts and surrounded us with love and we are truly grateful.”
Colin Ballance, Manchester Dogs’ Home liason officer, described the “horrendous” scene when he arrived at the home on Thursday night as “like something out of a horror film.”
As fundraising gathered pace this morning, many dog owners took to Twitter to show their support.
Mr Ballance, speaking to Sky News, said: “You could hear them screaming but the thing was, you couldn’t do anything”.
"It was unbearable, it was like something out of a horror film. Something I don't want to remember if you know what I mean, but I will never forget it."
Around 150 dogs have been rescued Thousands of people responded to the tragedy by sharing pictures of themselves and their dogs online under the hashtag ‘dogselfies’, while donating thousands of pounds to the centre.
Across the country dog lovers donated food and blankets to help the 150 surviving dogs, who have been transferred to sister charity centre on the outskirts of Warrington, Cheshire.
Dogs’ home manager Lisa White responded to a BBC Five Live question about injured dogs with: "There were no dogs to put to sleep, the fire got them all."
Officers confirmed at least 53 dogs died in the blaze.
Anna Stansfield, another manager of Cheshire Dogs Home, described the blaze as "soul destroying".
Neighbours heard yelping from Manchester Dogs’ Home last night after a fire broke out around 7pm last night.
Neighbours heard yelping from Manchester Dogs’ Home last night after a fire broke out around 7pm last night.
More than 30 fire-fighters arrived at 7.20pm to battled the blaze, which is thought to have started in the kennels, with at least two animal-lovers risking their lives by running into the flames to being out 20 dogs.
More than 30 fire-fighters arrived at 7.20pm to battle the blaze, which is thought to have started in the kennels, with hundreds of local gathering at the scene to offer assistance.
Since last night - 190k . You are all amazing. They saved Finlays life & changed mine forever. #ManchesterDogsHome pic.twitter.com/UhSrV3H6Ct
Jason Dyer, 41, and his nephew Dean Rostock, 25, described how they ran into the burning building after they heard the animals yelping.
Take a Selfie of your dog, nominate and donate. TEXT MDOG99 £5 to 70070 #manchesterdogshome pic.twitter.com/jErxwYUjNE
The pair are believed to have saved 20 dogs from the flames.
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered on Moss Brook Road with dog blankets, cages and food. Some have reportedly offered to rehome the animals.
Speaking at a press conference at the scene today, Greater Manchester 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.”
It is not known how many dogs have been injured, although police have confirmed that 150 animals have been rescued.
Det Insp Jones confirmed the arrest of a 15-year-old boy on suspicion of arson as part of an on-going investigation into the cause of the fire.
An estimated 50 dogs died in the flames.
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.”
Sounding tired and emotional, dogs' home manager Lisa White said to BBC Five Live: "There were no dogs to put to sleep, the fire got them all."
Detective Inspector Neil Jones, said today: “The response from the public has been overwhelming and this is clearly an incident that has tugged on the heart strings of many.
“A number of people, including police officers and staff were quickly on the scene and put their life on the line to help with the rescue effort.
Survivors were transferred to the sister home on the outskirts of Warrington, Cheshire.
Anna Stansfield, manager of Cheshire Dogs Home, described the blaze as "soul destroying" and added all the rescued dogs would be transferred to its site in Cheshire.
She said she could not comment on the circumstances of the blaze but confirmed that four members of staff were working there at the time.
Jason Dyer, 41, and his nephew Dean Rostock, 25, speaking to the Manchester Evening News, described how they ran into the burning building after they heard the animals yelping. The pair saved 20 dogs from the flames.
Around 150 dogs have been rescued Mr Dyer said: "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."
A 15-year-old boy is being questioned on suspicion of arson as a joint investigation by Greater Manchester Police and GMFRS (Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service).
Manchester police confirmed they will be conducting an investigation today into the cause of the fire.
GMFRS 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.
Manchester & Cheshire Dogs' Home opened in 1893 and has rehomed more than one million dogs.
The registered charity is said to care for more than 7,000 stray and unwanted dogs each year and manages to rehome 95 per cent of them.
