Rowley - Jan 4, 2007: Firefighters, the Red Cross, Georgetown police and animal control officers, as well as response teams from other nearby towns, were all on hand to manage an incredibly well organized and extensive rescue and evacuation operation at the raging fire in Georgetown yesterday.
Helicopters and sirens had already alerted staff members at Muddy Creek Animal Care Center in Rowley to a disaster of some proportions, and were already on their way to the scene when the Red Cross called requesting the use of Muddy Creek’s facilities to house any pets rescued from the flaming building. Muddy Creek employees Elayne Reynolds and Jolene Leston rushed to the scene to help coordinate the veterinary emergency effort.
Animals rescued from the building were taken to Muddy Creek where Dr. Ray Cahill-Morasco was on hand along with veterinary technicians and technician volunteers from InTown’s other hospitals in Woburn and North Andover to manage the flow of cold, wet, soot covered, foot-singed dogs, cats and a rabbit. Dr. Cahill-Morasco donated his time by thoroughly examining and treating every animal that came through the door.
One cat “Smudge” was in critical condition from severe hypothermia and smoke inhalation. After being stabilized at Muddy Creek, he was rushed to Essex County Veterinary Emergency Hospital for further treatment and overnight care, and he is doing better today. He has been reunited with his owners and will be going home as soon as he is deemed fit.
Muddy Creek Animal Care Center has been fielding calls and reuniting pets with owners since yesterday. Most of the 18 animals (cats, dogs & 1 rabbit) came in soaking wet, covered in soot and shivering. All have been reunited with their owners.