So. My house burned down yesterday. I've had a couple people reach out and God am I so tired of reliving what happened but I suppose it will be good to have one post to send to anyone who asks.
I was woken up at 7:30 am by my roommate saying there was smoke. I jumped out of bed groggy and confused and kinda thinking they were overreacting.
I went to the garage to check the space heater and to my horror my dog's kennel was on fire. With both my dogs inside.
I ran into the snow to open the garage from the outside and ripped the cage door open. There was fire in their bedding already but I could hear them and I yelled at them to run out. I couldn't see them through the smoke.
Marcus got out first. A good Samaritan named Aaron had pulled into my driveway and ran in to rip the cage door open and scared Freya out of the cage. He took off down the road while Marcus was placed into Aaron's vehicle.
I ran back into the house to find the cats but Aaron forced me to leave. The fire department got there and me and my roommate were placed first in a fire truck and then into a ambulance.
Shortly later Frank (cat) and Bea (cat) were brought to us in rough condition but alive. Firefighters told us that Frank didn't let himself be caught until Bea had been found.
Bea and Frank were rushed to the closest vet. Marcus was behind them in Aaron's car. Freya had already been picked up and brought to the vet and was there when everyone arrived. Me and roommate were still at the house.
All 4 animals were given care and treatment for minor burns and smoke inhilation. Freya has small burns on his butt and ear but he is alive, if not traumatized. You might not believe me if I told you Marcus came out completely unscathed. But it's true. He was just pissed off to be in a cage on his own and is super anxious. They gave him something for the stress and kept all four animals overnight for observation but mostly so me and my roommate didn't have to worry about them. The dogs have a temp foster set up and the cats can stay with us.
Figs body was brought to us shortly after. She did not suffer. Just went to sleep. I held her until I couldn't bear the weight of her anymore. She has been laid to rest on my roommate's family's property.
As for the house it's lost. As for me and my roommate we suffered minor scraps from the attempt to free all the animals. I have a burn on my arm. Both our feet are frost burnt from running into the snow without proper footwear.
We are currently staying with roommates family. We have a hotel to go to later today where we will have the cats and long term placement is being found for all of us dogs included.
So that's where I'm at. It's a rough road ahead. But our family is mostly complete.
