Rescuer in MS Lost Everything to Fire at Home! Donations Needed Please!

[Emilie]

PERMISSION TO CROSSPOST WIDELY!

(This rescue group pulled from area shelters, puppymills, and strays, purebreds, mutts, designer dogs, etc! They pulled them all, cared for them, vetted them, and then adopted them out to loving homes.

Here is the raw video of the fire. (Raw generally means "unedited", but in this case, it is "raw" in the meaning of horrible, hurting, etc.)

VIDEO: Marshall County Fire
http://video.wreg.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?vt1=v&clipFormat=flv&clipId1=3443153&at1=News&h1=RAW


Story from Newspaper:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/feb/14/traumatized-again/?printer=1/*********************************************************************************************


From Bev, speaking on behalf of MidSouth Animal Rescue League (Linda Money and Kevin Clements) for needs following the fire and total destruction of their home and rescue - in Mississippi, not far from Memphis where their Petf inder site is listed:

These are things Linda always needs:
· Any dog pens
· Fencing chain link at least 6-feet high
· 10 x 20 Canopies or larger. At Home Depot they are called Instant Garages
· Home Depot,20Lowes or Visa or Mastercard gift cards
· Collar, all sizes…she prefers adjustable
· Leashes
· Metal dog bowls
· Fence poles
· Fence ties
· Stepping stones
· Gravel or rocks (limestone or chert)
· Bales of chain link, heavy gauge
· Bricks and rocks
· Heavy duty construction, black garage bags

Please don’t bring her or Kevin clothes or shoes. They can buy them through gift cards or donations you give. Kevin’s job is replacing his uniforms at no charge

From:
Beverly King
[e-mail]
901-386-9127
901-679-4740
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How to Help:

Please help if you can! This need has been certified by many reputable rescuers, in case you don't know Linda Money personally. $5, $10, $25, $100. Whatever you can do to help, please do so!

* Paypal monetary donations to [e-mail]

* Mail checks and gift cards to MidSouth Animal Rescue Fire Fund, c/o Regions Bank, 8975 E Goodman Rd, Olive Branch, MS 38654

* Take or ship dog-related donations, such as crates, food, toys, blankets, dog pens, etc. to Countrywood Subdivision, 2746 Rockcreek Parkway, Cordova TN 38061
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I would guess they need a new computer too and computer related stuff. Check with Bev first so that duplicates aren't given on the "high ticket" items. (see Bev's info at top of this email).

And of course, "human-related" items are needed as well. That's where your PayPal donations and checks can help so much. Think about clothes, toiletries, food, etc. Gift cards to major retailers such as WalMart, Target, PetsMart, PetCo, Kroger, Shell, BP, fast food outlets, etc.

PayPal or checks or gift cards would be the best choices to help this rescue group, if you live far away. It will also allow you to help them best so they can purchase exactly what they need.

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This family has been very active in rescuing dogs at the last minute, in danger of Euth, from area shelters. They also have pulled many many dogs and pups from nearby puppymills. They have rescued just about ebery breed there is, so if you are a breed specific rescue, they have helped your breed no doubt! They have also pulled/rescued many of the new designer breeds, such as Puggles, Doogles, Cockerapoos, etc. that sadly end up in shetlers due to overbreeding.

Just imagine what it would be like if you lost everything, including your pets and rescue dogs and cats in your care. How would you feel? What could ot hers do to help you? Then that's probably what they need!

Thanks to everyone for helping!!!


Emilie M Bottiggi

[Emilie]

Memphis Commercial Appeal published the story on Sat. Feb. 14, 2009

Story is copied below:



Fire destroys Mississippi sanctuary for rescued animals
By Toni Lepeska

Saturday, February 14, 2009



Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Friends help Linda Money (second from left) search for the remains of dogs Friday in the rubble of her Red Banks, Miss., home.



Mark Weber/The Commercial Appeal

Money comforts Luke (left) and Cookie, who survived the fire at Mid-South Animal Rescue League. About 30 dogs died in the blaze.




Her home was in ashes, her husband was in the hospital and her heart was in pain, but Linda Money couldn't leave.


Not the night of the fire. Not the night after the fire. She stayed on the property. She nursed the psyches of the traumatized dogs that survived and the wounds of Gophy, the first dog she ever rescued.


"I've never lost everything before, but I can tell you this, it's impossible to walk away. I'm his everything," Money said Friday, speaking of the dog she found living in a drain pipe. "I'm the first human who ever touched him."

Her husband, Kevin Clements, exhibited the same devotion. That's why he ended up in the hospital, first at one in Holly Springs, Miss., then at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, for smoke inhalation.


Clements was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after a fire Thursday engulfed the couple's home in Red Banks, a Marshall County community best accessed by U.S. 78.


The couple operate the Mid-South Animal Rescue League from the property. Dozens of dogs live there, dividing their time between indoor and outdoor kennels, outside romping areas and the house. Most are up for adoption.

About 30 dogs perished. Some cats did, too. The surviving ones, many already emotionally wounded in their past by abuse or neglect, were traumatized by the event. The smoke. The sirens. The strangers.

The animal rescue community, shelters, friends, neighbors and associates have taken in some of the dogs left and taken care of Money and Clements, providing bottled water, leashes and crates.


As Clements was making his way back home Friday, a recreational vehicle sent by a local veterinarian pulled up to the property, one of many gifts.


Money was grateful for the provision. She had spent the first night in her van tending to Gophy, whose eyes were swollen shut.


"This is my responsibility," she said. "This is my job. If it was your dogs, I would be here helping you."

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, the county fire investigator said Friday, but one fire chief said several things contributed to the house being a total loss. Firefighters had to give up and just watch it burn.

"It was a defensive attack from the start," said Kenny Holbrook of the Holly Springs Fire Department. "It was one of those days when the fire won."


At one point, Clements, home alone at the time of the fire, rushed past firefighters and dived into a front window after water beat back the heat from one room where he knew dogs remained. Shane Hicks, a Byhalia volunteer firefighter, went in after Clements, then helped him carry out those dogs.


Money said people have told her to be grateful no one was hurt, and she certainly is, but she cannot help but grieve what is gone and can't be recovered.


And she is not focused on where she and her husband will sleep next week. She wants to know where the dogs will sleep, what they will eat and will someone kind be there to rub their ears.

"All of us who do this," Money said, "it's the dogs first."


Helping fire victims

An account has been set up to help Linda Money and Kevin Clements with the dogs that survived the fire at their home this week. You can make contributions to the Mid-South Animal Rescue League Fund at Regions Bank.

-- Toni Lepeska: [phone]

[Adrianne Matzkin]

My contribution sent! Please keep us updated on the family - human and furkids. thank you for letting us know that we CAN help.

[Emilie]

Thank you so much! I don't really have anything new to report tonight except that the crossposting is helping! Please feel free to copy my message and send it on! A rescuer from KY sent a big box of items today for the dogs and a few niceties for the humans. She has even designated that her birthday gifts be donations to this rescue instead. Her bithday is this week. What a nice generous gift!

If you should ship anything to Countrywood Subdivison, please add the name of Amy Moore, as that is her address. Her name was left off originally for privacy purposes, but UPS or FedEx won't deliver unless they have a name.

Thanks to everyone who is sending in a donation. Your generosity is much appreciated!

Emilie

[Emilie]

Yes it horrible! Please feel free to let others outside this group know. Even $10 donation would help them rebuild their lives and their rescue. Thanks!