Hello,all.It's been awhile since I've started a post of my own but today I just had to get my feelings out.I am so sad today...I live in St. Augustine,Fla. which is just south of Jacksonville,Fla. Last night they had a terrible fire in one of the Humane Society buildings there and many, many animals were lost.It said in the paper that dozens of cats were lost and several dogs too.Poor,sweet animals who didn't have a real chance to have a life.All they wanted was a good home and now they will never have one.I cried when I saw it on t.v. this morning so please if you will,send your best wishes and thoughts to the wonderful people who run that shelter.I know how hard they work and how much they love those animals.Those animals are like family to them! How sad it is to think of so many beautiful animals all going to the rainbow bridge together.It just breaks my heart that they couldn't save them.I will be praying for all of those affected by this tragedy and I hope you'll do the same.Hopefully they will be able to rebuild the shelter very soon so they can continue to help as many animals as possible.Sincerely,Renee (Sox's mom)

Ohh..that is heartbreaking. Gives me a pit in my stomach and I'm in tears with you - I feel awful that they were all so helpless. I will say as many prayers as I can for all of the homeless babies who were lost..what a tragedy..

This is just terrible. Poor babies. I feel just sick thinking about what those babies last moments were like. I hope it was quick for them...I hope unconciousness set in from the smoke inhalation and they didn't know what happened. Were they able to save any at all? If so, how are they doing? Do they need funding for vet costs for the injured or is there a fund set up yet to help in the rebuilding process? Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help them....

I hope they find out how this could have happened for two reasons - to keep it from happening in the future and to help build a structure which will withstand this kind of tragedy. It's just so sad and seems so pointless, but I really think that nothing that happens in this world is pointless if we examine it closely. I hope the good people of this city will step forward and do what is necessary to create a place where animals will be loved and be able to find loving homes - I truly believe it's possible. Unfortunately there's never a shortage of these animals and I believe that there is new thinking about how to build shelters which are soothing, calm places for staff and animals - there's one here in DC which is the result of study of many like it across the country. Anyway, God bless these pets who are now with God in His home - that's truly what I believe although I know others don't - but they are at peace. Bless them.

Renee,

Thanks for posting this. I have been to St. Augustine! Beautiful place.

How awful for those poor animals who couldn't get out. I am sure they will reserve a special place at the rainbow bridge for them. May they all rest in peace, and find the happiness they never knew in this life.

Renee (Sox's mom)

Oh so sad. It's really awful that things like this happen. At least they all went in a pack to the bridge.....Poor babies.

Love

Oh, how horrible. Those poor kitties and dogs. I too hope that somehow they passed out from smoke inhalation, but oh my gosh, how scared they must have been! I will pray for them, and for the shelter workers who cared for them and loved them; they must be absolutely heartbroken.

If I had the space, I'd adopt every shelter animal. All they want is to be loved.

-- Michelle K.

I have an update on this story for you all.Today they were able to find several dogs and cats that they thought had been lost in the fire.They were scared and had run into the woods that surround the shelter.The people of Jacksonville have gotten behind the shelter and have donated over $30,000 in just two days.They have also had dozens of folks who have offered to be foster parents for an animal that might need a place to stay until they can rebuild the shelter.Thankfully not the entire shelter burned down and it looks like it will be rebuilt.It still makes me sad to think about how scared all those poor animals were in that fire and I also pray that they were all taken quickly.I know that God welcomed them all into his heaven and now they will get the love they never recieved here on earth.Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming,I'm sure they can use as many as they can get.Sincerely,Renee (Sox' Mom)