Advertisement
Animals perish in pet-centre inferno
Reporter: Andrew Rudkin
Date online: 30 January 2012
BRAVE men and women saved the lives of a number of seemingly doomed animals during an inferno which ravaged a Royton pet and garden centre.
Scores of pets were rescued by the RSPCA and firefighters on a devastating night in which hundreds of animals and a much-loved family business perished. ,Neighbours said one of the owners of Booth’s Garden and Pet Centre tried in vain to save his beloved animals from the blaze, which ignited around 5.30pm on Friday. The man, believed to be one of the Booth brothers who run the Turf Lane centre, placed his life in danger to rescue his livelihood which was crumbling before his eyes. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue reported a man collapsed at the scene at the early stages of the fire. He was thought to be suffering from a medical condition not directly caused by the fire.
The number of small animals that died in the blaze is likely to be in the hundreds including rabbits, lizards, birds and tropical fish.
The RSPCA’s Oldham branch manager, Mandy Tierney, along with a volunteer assisted by local fire crews, fought to rescue many animals, just feet away from the burning flames.
She said: “We rang the police to offer our assistance and the first indication was there was four parrots that needed help.
“When we got there it was established the animals in the main building had died so it was a case of getting as many out as we could.
“We got chickens, birds, rabbits and guinea pigs out. Heavily pregnant animals were giving birth in the vehicle on the way back, due to stress.”
The centre on Rhodes Bank, Oldham, has seen an influx of community support over the weekend, where volunteers have worked round the clock saving and caring for the animals.
Mandy added: “The support has just been overwhelming from the public. If anyone would like to help we are asking for financial donations, because it is money that keeps the centre open to take care of these animals.”
An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. However, foul play has been ruled out.
Fire crews from across Oldham and beyond tackled the blaze throughout the night and spent large amounts of Saturday dampening down.
Emotions ran high over the weekend with adults and children crying as they looked on at the heartbreaking aftermath.
The single-storey, predominantly wooden complex, owned by the popular Booth family, was seen as a centre where families could enjoy seeing a wide variety of animals.
Pete Scoltock, from Chadderton told the Chronicle: “Most of the people who came here came to look at the animals and the owners were very hospitable.
“My wife was in tears when she found out. It’s the poor animals that get me, they would have had no chance.”
Gary Constable, who lives just yards away from the centre, was returning home from work when he saw the tragedy unfold.
He said: “All I saw was flames. We were not evacuated because the flames were blowing away from the house and we just had the electricity off for a few hours.”
Royton resident Susan Childs said: “This land has been passed down from generation to generation. It is so sad.”
Greater Manchester Fire Service’s Paul Duggan said 40 firefighters were involved at the scene for most of the evening.
He said: “Crews have remained at the scene throughout the weekend.
“Unfortunately, a number of animals perished, but firefighters located a large wooden shed containing a considerable number of parrots and pigeons which were removed to safety.”
Comments
This is so very sad. My dad used to take me to Booths when he was getting gardening supplies and I used to love looking at all the little animals. When I had children, I used to take them and I would have loved to take my grandchildren. I hope they rebuild because Turf Lane won't be the same without Booths.
Such a tragic loss of life, to perish in such horrendous circumstances – mere words seem so embarrassingly inadequate on these occasions, their luster tarnished by the unfolding heartbreak.
"so sad" "such a tragic loss of life" e.t.c
Now all sit down for your tea of chicken and chips, steak pie, pork chops and don't forget the bacon buttie in the morning.
485million animals slaughtered in the UK last year.
I feel very sorry for the Booth family as they are a hard working family, and they, and their employees have now lost their livelihood, I'm just so glad that there wasn't any loss of human life and at least some of the animals survived. and OLDHAM WATCHER, I can't imagine that any meat eaters would wish animals to die in such awful circumstances, it's comments like yours that make vegetarians look like cranks - when it's probably only people like you that are the real cranks
Well said 'OldhamWatcher' ... The writer above is probably right - I'm sure no-one wanted these animals to die in such 'awful circumstances' ... but so many people remain oblivious to the appalling cruelty suffered by millions of animals in factory farms, meat markets and slaughterhouses every year just to put the meat on their plates. There is nothing about Oldham Watcher's comment that suggests he's a crank. Just someone who cares about animals ... in all situations.
How sad this is, i work next door to booths and could feel the heat of the fire when it was at its worst, i hope this buisness will rise from the ashes better than before as like everyone says when you went to booths it was more of a day out than a trip to the garden centre and the kids loved it. Re oldhamwatcher if god did not want us to eat animals he would not have made them out of meat.
OldhamWatcher & B.Serious - A good point very well made! As a vegetarian of some twenty-one years, passionate about animal welfare/rights, the daily suffering of our animal brethren (the slaughterhouse, fur-farms, hunting & shooting, vivisection etc), haunts my everyday waking life.
How sad. We visited Booth's in December to choose a baby bunny for my son. Mike was so kind and made sure he knew our bunny was going to a good home. We had even been back to visit the bunny as he was too young to come home with us just yet and we had hoped to get him this week. Now we fear the worse and my poor son is devastated. RSPCA cannot track our bunny down yet. Anyone who may know where else the pets could have gone please comment here.
I've been following the story via RSPCA Rochdale & RSPCA Oldham & Burys facebook page.Why has there been no mention of the role the Rochdale staff played in the rescue?I went to Rochdale today to donate some chicken food and was amazed to find out nearly 50 chickens from Booths are at the animal home there!+ guinea pigs. and it was a local member of the national inspectorate that co-ordinated the rescue? credit were credit due
I was told that an inspector Holt co-ordinated the rescue and Rochdale were asked to help, I understand that both Oldham and Rochdale took animals into their care. I was also told that the last people to leave Booths was Insp Holt and a member of Rochdale staff at 2.30am.
A shame about the poor animals, why was that complex built mainly out of wood it was a disaster waiting to happen, as for Oldham Watchers comment i could never harm an animal but people who kill for food i think that's ok but people who kill for sport are sick in the head, I noticed the Royal family were doing their royal shoot at Boxing day why they continue to infuriate the public is beyond me.
Have Your Say
So very sad. Booths has been there for ever, and I am so very sorry for the Booth family and their employees. But especially the doomed animals. Let's hope those that have survived find new and happy homes.
By dailyrant @ 30/01/2012 15:50:51