The Montclair Animal Shelter needs help from pet-lovers in Verona after a fire seriously damaged the Willow Street shelter earlier today.
Carolyn Narepecha, a shelter volunteer from Verona, was meeting at the shelter with other volunteers just before noon when someone shouted that the building was on fire. “We ran and put leashes on all the dogs and led them outside,” says Narepecha. “The smoke was billowing but everyone ran back inside and we started picking up the cats.” All aminals were moved safely to other locations in the area. The Montclair Fire Department extinguished the blaze, but a photo posted to Twitter by Montclair Councilman Sean Spiller shows extensive damage to the back of the building.
Narepecha said that, by mid-afternoon, all of the rescued animals had been placed in foster homes or other shelters. “But we don’t know the state of our supplies,” she said. The Montclair Animal Shelter is asking for donations of dog and cat food, as well as water and blankets. These can be delivered to the front of the building, which the staff has access to. Help can also be delivered in the form of Petsmart gift cards.
The shelter is saying that, until further notice, the Montclair Police Department will take all calls concerning animal control issues. Use the MPD’s main phone number, 973-744-1234.
You can follow other developments on the Shelter’s Facebook page.
Do you need a temporary pet home for any non-allergic dogs?
All of the pets that had been in the shelter have been placed.