THIS DAY DOG NEWS
Derrell Stimpson, one of Perry Boore's neighbors, prepares to take Shorty to the vet on Thursday. Shorty suffered smoke inhalation Wednesday when fire destroyed Boore's home.
OAKLAND – As 82-year-old Perry Boore lay heavily sedated in the ICU burn unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock on Thursday morning, back home, a community rallied around tragedy.
Friends and neighbors cared for the more than 60 dogs at Perry's Orphans Sanctuary, the rescue operation Boore has run for over 20 years, while the Twin Lakes Area responded with a huge heart to his enormous needs.
OAKLAND – As 82-year-old Perry Boore lay heavily sedated in the ICU burn unit at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock on Thursday morning, back home, a community rallied around tragedy.
Friends and neighbors cared for the more than 60 dogs at Perry's Orphans Sanctuary, the rescue operation Boore has run for over 20 years, while the Twin Lakes Area responded with a huge heart to his enormous needs.
The fire rekindled twice and was still smoldering Thursday morning as Boore's neighbors, Mike Dunn and Maher, fed, watered and cared for the dogs scattered across three locations on the remote property.
Community responds
Minutes after The Baxter Bulletin broke the story of the fire, donations began pouring into Gregg Farm Services in Midway. By Thursday afternoon, employees there had collected $4,000 in donations for Boore and his dogs.
"The phone started ringing about 15 minutes after The Baxter Bulletin put it up on the website," said Wendy Luna, an employee at the store. "The phone hasn't stopped ringing since."
There now are more than a half-dozen places across the Twin Lakes Area taking donations of animal supplies and money for Boore. Several thousand dollars worth of merchandise and monetary donations had been made by Thursday afternoon.
Boore's relatives are on their way to be with him and to make decisions as to what will happen next.
"We're going to try to get a count on the dogs. We're going to make sure everyone is comfortable, make sure everyone has food and water," Dunn said. "The community has been great, they've really responded."
Dunn said there is storage room on the property for dog food, adding food and blankets are the primary needs for the animals at this point.
Boore lost everything in the fire. It's unclear what clothing and shoe sizes he wears, so monetary donations are best at this point for his personal needs.
What happens next?
What will happen with Boore and his beloved sanctuary is the big question. It's unknown if he will be able to continue living on his own and caring for the animals he loves. There are two cabins on the property. One could potentially be made habitable with work.
Neighbors believe he may have insurance, as Boore recently refinanced the home. However, all his paperwork burned in the fire and it's unclear if his insurance agent, if any, knows what's happened.
"Everything is up in the air right now," Dunn said. "We're just going to keep things going the way they should here until Perry comes home or his family makes some decisions."
For the tight-knit community in the area, Boore's absence is a blow.
"I've known him personally for about 30 years, ever since he moved here. It was hard to see him like that yesterday, really hard," Dunn said. "I know what he feels for these animals, how much he sacrifices for them."
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