Last night I posted about the second fire at the Animal Friends shelter and I now just gotthis email which they sent out on their mailing list that contains more information on the fire and on how you can help:
There has been a second much more devastating fire at Animal Friends. This fire was in the main building and 39 animals perished. Several more are struggling to hold on.
Two fire investigations have shown that the fires were caused by a surge of electricity from the main lines. After the first fire, an inspection of the shelter elecrical system was conducted and smoke detectors and fire extinguishers were puchased and donated enmasse. Despite these precautions, a massive surge occured to the now weakened main electrical lines. All staff were sleeping nearby when the fire started. The fire was not discovered until aerosol cans near the source of the fire began to explode. At this point, the fire was fully involved and too dangerous for anyone but the fire department to fight. Our shelter staff acted herroically to save as many animals as possible, and the fire rescue team also showed great courage as they entered the building to release the dogs from their firey prisons while the fire was still burning. Despite these acts of bravery, at least ten animals died in the fire and many were so badly injured that the arriving shelter staff had to work frantically and desperately to triage them and provide euthanasia where necessary. Thus far, the fire has cost the lives of 8 dogs and 31 cats.
One whole section of the shelter is completely destroyed the entire building will require extensive repairs from smoke and fire damage. Animal Friends and the animals we care for have never needed your help more. Animal Friends simply will not survive without help from all of you. Below is a list of things we need in order of priority.
1. CASH! The rebuilding is going to cost KD50,000. Please donate what you can, hold small fundraisers and get as many people involved as possible. Checks should be made payable to: Ayeshah Waleed Al-Humaidhi and below is our bank information for a direct transfer. If you need further information please call 97377867 or e-mail [email protected].
Bank Name: Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East (BKME)
Branch: South Surra
Name: Ayeshah Waleed Al-Humaidhi
Address Line 1: P.O.Box 71, Safat 13001
Address Line 2: Kuwait
Account: 42043311
SWIFT: BKMEKWKW
2. Foster Homes. We have no shelter and currently have the animals housed at the Royal Animal Hospital and in outdoor enclosures at the shelter. These are obviously temporary fixes. The construction is going to take about 3 months and we are appealing to all of you to house an animal until it can be adopted or returned to the rebuilt shelter. If you are able to foster an animal please call 66187301 or e-mail [email protected].
3. Volunteers. We need help with clean-up and helping care for the animals. We need to salvage anything and everything we can from the building before the demolition starts. This weekend, Friday-Saturday (26-27) are going to be huge clean-up days. Your help would be hugely appreciated. The map will be uploaded to the website shortly.
4. In Kind Donations. We will be putting together an extensive list of items we need in the next few days and will send it out to the list as well as post to our website.
Thank you in advance for your help and support and we hope to rise out of the ashes bigger and better.
33 replies on “Animal Friends: A Second Extremely Devastating Fire”
Such sad news :…(
* We’ll be helping and I hope more people do the same.
That’s horrible!!!!!
31 cats? 8 Dogs? Hmm…
we just called up, it seems the pets died due to suffocation.
I dont believe its because an electrical fail 🙁
Directions to AFL:
Drive on 40 Motorway till you pass 8th Ring Road then take exit 306 To Wafra, Then drive 35 KM till you reach a round about, take left, round about, and one more, then another big round about where no way to go straight, take left, then first right, at the end take right, and 1st left … Finally the farm on your right hand.
GPS
Latitude: 28°33’37.37″N
Longitude: 48° 1’21.81″E
Weren’t the animals fine with the freedom of the streets… Now incages being burnt alive.. For the second time.. Why can’t the just leave them alone??
You should sue the electrical contractor that did this TWICE !
Sfsa78,
Maybe they have freedom on the streets but they were probably half starved also. These people are doing a fantastic job in looking after these animals. Its very unfortunate that this has happened but i bet they have had a much better life in there than being left on the streets.
Sfsa – you should really be thanking them instead of telling them off. I agree a fire should’ve never gotten that big, be it careless of not installing proper fire alarms, intended evil act by kids or hiring schmucks who fully hibernate at night they still did a job many of us REFUSED to even get involved in.
Problem is within the roots of society itself.
look at how we respect working classes, let alone animals.
So again thank you Animal Friends, I just wish less effort is put into evaluating the damage and more onto building a better future for animals.
God bless you.
Sounds like extreme negligence to me. And shouldn’t donations go to a company account rather than an individual’s?
Hamad, Animal friend isnt an organization, its a charity not for profit, its for helping animals.
so there is no bank account can be opened under the name of AFL.
They are very trusted place, and if you are not interested in paying, just go and offer them some help.
My cattt there ( inshallah you’re saved )
This is horrible news! I cannot think of another organisation right now that I would excitedly give of my time, money, and attention to. And here, we know the money given to the organisation is actually going into an official organisation bank account and will be used for honest purposes. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.
On the more positive note, from this tragedy, comes attention and awareness to an organisation devoted, dedicated and committed to the real welfare of animals. God works in wonderous ways, and He know what he does.
Remember, we are the power of many and together we can make miracles!
I agree with Ramez’s comments, yes lightening rarely strikes twice… this does appear ominous. Disgruntled employee? Rival organisation? hmmm, begs the question doesnt it.
And to Hamad, yes again, ordinarily funds are entered into an official organisation. That being said, when in question, I would advise that one looks to the individuals behind the organisation, those who run/represent it; do some background research on the people. Ask people you trust or anyone unattached to the organisation, excluding rivaling organisations, and make your decision from there.
I dont know anyone at AFL, but from the many animal lovers I know, I have yet to hear A SINGLE negative word or neglectful thought regarding AFL. That goes a long way considering the alternative.
A surge from the main can do that type of damage but the government should be held responsible for such a shabby build.
Poor animals!
What the AFL are doing is truly amazing and should serve as inspiration to all of us! what happened was an unfortunate accident .. I just hope they didn’t suffer 🙁 ..
lets give them a hand to rebuild the shelter
This is sad and makes me angry as hell!
If there is a serious problem with their electrical system, why keep the animals there?
Thanks for the clarification Rhonda and Ramez
A FAT HEALTHY CAT IS LIVING IN our house,not inside put in the outside yard and he seems very happy.he is having better life than 2 burn in a shulter and some times he invites his freinds to play in our garden
Rhonda one can only imagine that in thrusting accusations at rival organisations and your less than subtle remarks about trust you can only possibly mean PAWS as this is the only other organisation of its kind here in Kuwait.
Only a warped individual would imagine for a moment that any of the wonderful volunteers at PAWS Kuwait would consider for a moment burning animals alive to their own ends? Its inconceivable and twisted.
If you are the Rhonda that was banned from the PAWS dog show for previous uncalled for malicious remarks against the society and individuals at the organisation then can i suggest that if you have little more to do than spread narrow minded mean gossip at this dreadful time that you put your efforts into doing what the rest of us animal lovers are doing and helping AFL, try getting your backside down to the shelter.
As you have said you know nothing about the AFL organisation and I am sure that they will not want this kind of petty remark from any member of the public on their behalf.
We are all here for the animals so dont forget this please and try and do something positive. Whatever your goal in writing this comment you have clearly failed…the cause of the fire has been proven to be electrical so actually you have only succeeded in making yourself look rather silly and upsetting a lot of kind hearted caring people.
And for your information PAWS were one of the first organisations to call AFL and offer support, on BOTH occasions! This disaster will also be having a knock on affect on PAWS as most donations will now find their way to AFL as they are in need right now. PAWS are also receiving an added workload of animals that need rescuing as understandably AFL are not in a position to do so, these additional animals all need feeding so many are affected by this tragedy….
PLEASE STOP THIS AND LET US CONCENTRATE ON HELPING AFL
Ms Jan. I think I can speak for most people this is not the forum for your disgraceful juvenile catfight. I dont know you or this Rhonda but I have also been mentioned certain nonflattering opinions of the woman organising Paws, and I dont know any of you.. but that is neigher here nor there.
The focus here is animal welfare as a whole.
I’m a practicing Clinical Psychologist in Italy for nearly 20 years and frequent Kuwait for professional reasons. If you or your lady friends are every in the Florence area, look me up, I’ll offer you my professional services complimentary.
Belitting other individual in a public domain says more about the attackers (yourself and your lady friends) then it does about the person on the recieving end (that, Rhonda). Your defensive attitude raises the brow and might even beg the question of integrity.
This usually is evidence of self-hatred or insecurity. Efforts to humiliate another in order to feel or appear better yourself.
Ms Jan, let me not forget one distinct trait… envy… and in the case of you and your lady friends, dangerous envy.
Does this mean I, also, am bannished from Paws events?
Men 1 Women 0
Oh I Dont know
Jan have you guessed by now this is one and the same person?
Pete of course saw through it immediately and cant stop laughing.
BTW are you the guy who adopted Sasha from Paws at the beginning of the month?
The cause of the fire (as verified by several independant inspectors) was a power spike from the main electrical line.
There is NO BUILDING CODE IN KUWAIT that requires any building to have a surge arrestor installed. Someone should immediately check to ensure that there is one installed at PAWS since I am sure that no one would like to see another tragedy like this anywhere.
I think those who have taken it upon themselves to harbor animosity towards each other here should take it off-line – and focus on the animals.
Desert Girl you are a sweetie.
I know and I am sorry if others are upset…we too have had a rough month for reasons you know and to be accused in such a way is very upsetting, however you are right and nothing more will be said. I love your blog too by the way. We are doing our bit and a good point raised, we sure as heck will get our electrics checked out.
Take care
Well hello Pete and Jan.
Firstly Pete, there are no smoke and mirrors here, I can argue my own battles especially when the truth is on my side.
To Jan, since you opened the door, let us walk through it, shall we. and let the truth be told.
Indeed, I am the Rhonda that Margaret autonomously disinvited from the PAWS dog show, however, she did keep our monetary donations-go figure!!
But as I would suspect your statements are incorrect. Although this is probably not your fault as I suspect that Margaret is to cowardly to tell the facts and truth at they really are.
I and my husband are supporters of PAWS and AFL. While we are to busy to give our volunteer time we do support by attending functions and paying to do so, as the majority of attendees to PAWS functions do.
This situation is entirely about something that someone said to me that I said to someone else—-“chicks, man!”
Margaret took a pesonal situation and attached to PAWS in order to exact vengence. Clearly she is far more cunning than I am.
Let get this clear once and for all! This is NOT about PAWS. This is about Margaret. I am not the author of certain rumours circulating about her. I just simply repeated (probably not smart) what I heard, and did so to the right person, (or wrong person) and it obviously got back to Margaret.
She, of course, did not like it. I’m happy to attach her e.mail to me asking me to defend her against rumours of misappropriation of PAWS funds.
I DONT KNOW IF THIS IT TRUE AND I DONT CARE!
But this is why Maragaret excluded me from the PAWS event.
But lets clarify something about non-profit organisatins. Its about the organisations purpose not the people. And we are not always loved by everyone. So be it with Margaret.
However, apparently with Margaret you have to like her personally in order to be welcome to PAWS events.
And may the good Lord have mercy on you if she hates you.
As we can see as evidence here!
Good day people now find something better to do with your time. Cheers.