Tragically a fire at a home for abandoned dogs in Manchester this evening has claimed over 40 lives. The blaze was apparently deliberately started and was soon out of control. Rescue services rushed to the scene and set up road blocks to keep people away.
In the midst of unbelievably tragic and horrifying events such as this, the best in human beings rises to the surface. And so it was with two ordinary blokes who live nearby. They didn’t stop to think about or reason through the danger to themselves, they acted out of a true instinct of compassion.
Jason Dyer, 41, and his nephew Dean Rostock, 25, jumped over the fence and kicked open kennel doors after hearing dogs barking in panic. Between them the pair rescued around 20 dogs, putting leads on them and bringing them to safety before tying them to a nearby fence.
Jason and Dene described the horror scene: “”All the windows where the dogs are advertised for sale were blown out and the ceiling was collapsed. We initially ran into the bit that was on fire but we couldn’t get those dogs out. We went to the other kennels and began kicking out the doors. We just wanted to get them out.”
“This place is part of our childhoods. We both have dogs and love dogs – of course we are going to run in there. We just wanted to make sure as many as possible would be okay.”
It has been reported that a young lad aged 15 has been arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. It appears certain people on social media have been calling for his mutilation and lynching. If it’s true – and don’t forget the police arrest and charge a lot of innocent people – he must either be psychologically disturbed or it was done as a stupid prank. Calling for his torture and death shows the worst in us as a species.
The dog’s home was in Harpurhey, a working class community which was recently ridiculed in a Benefits Street-style BBC programme. Yet what Jason and Dean did evinced true empathy, compassion and solidarity and we should salute them as working class heroes!
Here is the gofundme page for donations: http://www.gofundme.com/edktu4
As a co partner of a animal rescue Our prayers and thoughts are with the poor dogs and staff from last nights fire at Manchester dogs home. If ever the expression “for the grace of god go i” was more apt, then this is it. My heart truly is broken for these poor little souls and if we can leave a legacy it has to be no more over breeding so therefore no more dogs in rescues. I know the public have been fantastic in the aftermath of this disaster, but make no mistake we allow as a society dogs to be put in institutions sometimes for years for the crime of being born and unwanted, then if that were not bad enough euthanasia or like last night worse. We can stop this and the support last night proved as a society we do care. We must change breeding legislation now. lastly a simple way to help is please spay and neuter also adopt don’t buy. RIP little ones xxx