Hallsville animal rescue looks to raise funds after weekend fire kills more than two dozen dogs
HALLSVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)
A fundraiser has started after a fire on Sunday morning killed more than two dozen dogs at the Little Rays of Sunshine Animal Rescue in Hallsville.
Donations can be made at a link on the group's Facebook page, as well as on their website.
"We are working through the grieving process because not only did we lose all the dogs, but those dogs were our family members because a lot of them have been here awhile," Jordan Alexander, owner of Little Rays of Sunshine, said.
About 15 Boone County Fire Protection District firefighters were at the scene to fight the fire at around 1 a.m. Sunday.
Alexander said in its few years of operation, Little Rays of Sunshine has helped find homes for roughly 500 dogs.
"We have another fundraiser that we just came up with this morning that we're going to have here in the local community," Alexander said. "It'll be at the Bob Lemone Building and that's going to be February 24 at 7 o'clock (p.m.). We will have a live band and possibly some other stuff, some more details to come after we get all of that figured out."
A Boone County Fire official said the kennel sustained about $30,000 worth of damage. Officials said that it took roughly two hours to put the fire out.
Boone County Fire Protection District Capt. Wayne Cummings said when crews arrived, they found the 1,200-square-foot building fully engulfed with flames with the roof caving in.
"Unfortunately, by the time we got here, the fire had been burning for quite some time and all the dogs perished in the fire. The homeowner estimated about 30," Cummins said Sunday morning.
Alexander was thankful for those on scene who tried to make a difference.
"We're very grateful for the fire department," Alexander said. "They were awesome, they were amazing. Very comforting and then the fire detectives as well. They came out again yesterday and that's a hard thing for them to see as well."
No humans were hurt in the fire and the cause is being investigated.
Little Rays of Sunshine Animal Rescue is a nonprofit 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization that is dedicated to providing a safe haven for neglected, abandoned or abused animals until a home is found.
