Animals perish in pet-centre inferno
Reporter: Andrew Rudkin
Date published: 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.”
