Pet Store Roof Collapses

[Lisa B]

A Petco Exploded in NJ, and 100 of the 200 animals inside did not survive. The serch was called off at 8pm. Most of the parrots were killed in the immediate blast, others froze to death because of the cold.

here is the story.


5 Hurt After N.J. Pet Store Roof Collapses

Saturday March 5, 2005 2:46 AM


AP Photo NJBP201

By BONNIE PFISTER

Associated Press Writer

EATONTOWN, N.J. (AP) - The roof of a pet supply store collapsed Friday after a damaged gas line exploded, injuring five people and killing many small animals, authorities said.

All five were rescued from the rubble. Four were Petco store employees and one was a construction worker who had gone in trying to help people get out, officials said.

The explosion caused more than half of the single-story store to collapse into the basement.

``A third of the roof has collapsed, there's debris all over, the glass is all blown out. This was a tremendous explosion,'' said Harry Conover, director of emergency management for Monmouth County.

County prosecutor Robert Honecker said the victims were hospitalized with what he described as crushing injuries. Authorities did not release their identities.

A man and a woman were in critical condition Friday night at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, and two other men were in fair condition, hospital spokeswoman Kristen Indahl said. A fourth man was treated and released from another hospital.

The explosion occurred as employees were evacuating customers and animals after construction workers damaged an unmarked gas line outside the store and then smelled gas, said Shawn Underwood, spokesman for San Diego-based Petco Animal Supplies Inc.

One woman was rescued after she used her cell phone to direct rescuers to her, Underwood said.

SPCA investigator Buddy Amato said hundreds of animals, mostly rodents and fish but also 40 geckos and about 70 parrots and parakeets, were in the store when it collapsed. At least 100 had been taken out alive by Friday afternoon.

``We're going to be here all night,'' Amato said as animal handlers and volunteers carried out live animals, including fish placed in buckets and plastic bags because their tanks were broken.

As night fell, workers were building ramps through the wreckage to try to recover dozens of parrots and parakeets whose cages had fallen into unstable areas of the basement.

Three veterinary hospitals offered to help treat injured animals, and those unhurt will be cared for at the SPCA, said Ursula Goetz, director of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Petco operates more than 700 stores in 47 states and the District of Columbia.
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[Regina U.]

I live right near the store , a few towns away. I happened to leave work early yesterday and went by there on my way home, ( that was at 2pm, it occured approx. 11:30am). I spoke at that time to an SPCA officer who was there. He said they could not go in for the animals until all of the people were rescued. Then they building had to be deemed safe before they could enter. ( as I am writing tears are streaming down my face, this is very difficult to write ). A local Home DePot store donated wood , so they could make part of the structure safe enough for the animal rescue people to enter. It was into the evening hours before they could enter. Mind you, the building , what was left of it, was now exposed to the elements and cold air. The SPCA and Human Society as well as a few local Vetenary Hospital people were there from what I understand until around midnight. They said the numbers of the animals keep changing, but appoximately 100 animals were rescued, unfortunately, most of them were not the parrots. In all about 20 parrots and parakeets, were rescued. I went to the SPCA today to see if there was anything I could do. They said no birds were brought to their facility. Some small animals were brought yesterday to them and the Human Society. They did not stay at either location , nor did they recieve vetenary care there, as PETCO had them transported very quickly to other PETCO locations were they were to recieve vetenary care from their own vetenarians. (very disappointing). I was told by the SPCA that when the birds that were rescued were taken out of the structure, they were immediately taken to other PETCO stores, and were to be seen also by their own vets. I was and am very upset by this as PETCO will just turn around and sell them. The trama that they had gone through had to be horrible. I was also told today that the reason so few of the parrots were saved was because they were located in the section of the store were the blast occured and the most structural damage was sustained. It was too damaged to allow the rescue people to go in and try to get them out. When the gas line was hit, they started to evacuate the building.The workers who were trapped inside were the ones trying to evacuate the animals. It was on the news that the 100 or so animals that did not make it were either killed in the blast , escaped, or froze to death waiting to be rescued. I was told by the SPCA that they are going back to the site to see if they can find any stay animals in the vicinity. They are also keeping a look out in trees for any birds that may have escaped. Unfortunately they are PETCO's "property" and they have the right to take them to other stores. :eusa_wall Any parrots that survived should be in loving homes to be rehabilitated from the trama. I was told most of the cages were crused from the roof colaspsing on the rest of the building. The workers were found in the basement area, because the force of the roof colaspsing on the building pushed the fist floor , into the basement. They believe some of the parrots were in the basement. I was told by the SPCA that there wasn't anything I could do, so I made a donation to the SPCA for their efforts in rescuing the animals and had my donation dedicated to "ALL OF THE PARROTS THAT DID NOT SURVIVE".
(you now are guardian angels for all parrots ) :eusa_ange

REST IN PEACE... MAY YOU ALWAYS FLY FREE NOW! :eusa_pray

Regina

Sorry for the long post, but I guess I really needed to vent.

[Emma]

I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy.

Regina I think its good for you to vent and get this out. Hearing of it is awful and for you to live so close and actually be there I know has to be extremely disturbing for you.

Petco's vets say there are in no way associated with Petco...they are just renting the space in the store.....at least that is the policy here in Oklahoma. I personally do not believe it based on how their grooming dept injured my best friends shih tzu while grooming him...and the Petco manager would only authorize his treatment from their vet even though she begged for them to let her take him to her vet and still pick up the tab.

anyway, it still might be worth a try to talk to the vet that has taken the animals in... maybe they have a plan to rehabilitate the animals they could share with you...and perhaps even let you partcipate in that.

again, I am so sorry to hear this news.

God bless,
Emma

[tacoeater411]

That's TERRIBLE!!!! :icon_frow Poor parrots!!!! :icon_cry:

[Regina U.]

I have been trying to find out about the condition of the parrots that were rescued. I called several of the Petco stores and they said they have no information on the parrots that were rescued. One store suggested I call Petco's customer relations. I did and was told I would have to speak with their Media Coordinator. They would not give me her phone number, they said they can't give it out. They told me she won't be in until Monday and I should call the number for customer relations and they would transfer me to her then. I then read an article in the paper that said the rescued birds were taken to the store in Old Bridge. I called them, everyone seems very causious on giving out any informtion. I told the store in Old Bridge ( when I callled that I know they were taken there. ) The first person I spoke with asked me if I was interested in buying any of them. I told her I was interested in finding out the condition of the birds and if they recieved vetenary care. She put someone else on the phone who reluctantly told me that parakeets were taken there and were seen by a vet., but he is not sure of the condition of them, but knows they are being cared for. (HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW THE CONDITION OF THE BIRDS IN YOUR STORE???!!!!).

I am sooooo frustrated!!!!!

On the New Jersey Network channel on TV, they indicated that it is believed that parrots may still be trapped in the basement of the collasped structure.!!!!!! In the Asbury Park Press it is written, "By nightfall the only animals left inside were birds trapped in the rubble".." Their cages were in the most unstable part of the building. The floor underneath the birds collapsed, and they had fallen to the level below. Rescue workers were eventually able to lower a ladder into the hole and rescued 20 to 25 birds''... ......" We are assuming the rest of them perished, unfortunately,"...... " Rescue workers were never able to reach the lizards and iguanas in the building , which were in a part of the store that was completely destroyed"....

I asked every Petco store I called and customer relations , if anything was being done to see if there were still parrots trapped in the basement , as indicated on TV.?? I got the same response, you have to talk to the Media Coordinator on Monday. :eusa_wall

I understand if the structure is not stable they cannot go in..... I JUST FEEL HORRIBLE THINKING THAT PARROTS MAY STILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE.....

Thanks for letting me vent.

Regina

[Tiki]

That is heartbreaking! I wish there were something I could do do help those poor birds if any have survived. What were they doing in the basement anyway? That is no place to house birds!