Dog sanctuary owners devastated by fire appeal for new home until August

Thursday 21 April 2016

Two months after a fire ripped through an animal rescue centre killing four dogs, the couple running it are desperate to find a temporary home for themselves and 15 rescue animals.

Alison and John Le Feuvre, who run Jersey Rescue Dogs, had to move out of their home in First Tower in February after a faulty iPad charger caused the blaze that ripped through their kitchen, trapping some of their dogs inside.

Alison said: “The kitchen is completely written off and will have to be replaced. The living room, dining room and bedroom are completely smoked damaged.

“But losing the dogs, there’s absolutely no words, even talking about it now, I still find it really tough. The possessions can be replaced, I couldn’t give a monkeys about a new kitchen.

“It’s been really stressful, it’s been tough, the dogs have coped quite well, but we’ve got one who was injured with smoke inhalation and he’s showing some psychological effects from it.”

The couple set up the charity Jersey Rescue Dogs about seven years ago and in that time have helped re-home about 200 dogs. They have since been told by their insurance company that they can't move back in to their own home on St Aubin's Inner Road until July or August.

Another couple kindly gave them a temporary place to stay in Tower Road and Alison and John have been taking turns with time off work to look after the dogs at a property they have in the UK.

But now they can't take any more holidays and need somewhere on the Island where they can stay for the summer with all the dogs. Alison has been on the hunt for a new home via social media but hasn't found anywhere suitable yet.

Alison said: "Ideally we’d need a property that is maybe due for some renovation, somewhere safe and secure and where we won't upset the neighbours and hopefully with a secure garden."

If you've got a place where the couple and all their dogs can stay, you can get in touch with Alison here.

She said: "I’d just like to thank everyone for their continued support. We’ve had a lot of donations and words of support and it keeps you going.”