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A pet-lover’s worst nightmare: All gone

By Gina Spadafori

May 26, 2010

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We always struggle here with news like this, because it’s very difficult — not to mention inherently unfair — to decide who gets our help and who doesn’t.  And truly, we could fill the entire blog with nothing but stories of pets and pet-owners who need our help, which is why we tend to take the “big picture” view most days.

But today I woke up, turned on the computer and was so overwhelmed with a tragedy I could do nothing but sit on the floor and hold my own dogs.  Why? Because a person in my extended community of friends and animal lovers has lost everything in a house fire. And by “everything,” I do mean everything except the two-legged family — all six of the family’s dogs died. The family wasn’t home, and the person counts that as the only saving grace: Where the fire broke out, the children may have been killed, too, had everyone been home.

The woman’s name is Patty Carey-Johnstone, and she and her remaining family are living in a New Jersey Holiday Inn right now trying to cope. Friends who have talked to her say the family is still doing the things dog-lovers do: Opening doors carefully so pets don’t run out, and putting food up to thwart counter-cruisers. They are in shock, and the magnitude of their loss has not yet sunk in fully. But it will.

They are meeting with the insurance adjusters today. In the meantime, friends have set-up a Paypal link for donations, and it’s here.

Nothing can ever replace the lives lost, and only time can blunt the knife-sharp stabs of grief.  Godspeed to the beloved dogs, and a prayer for the survivors.

Filed under: animal charities,Disasters — Gina Spadafori @ 7:27 am

36 Comments »

  1. What a horrible tragedy. Prayers and many good wishes, heading to Paypal now.

    Comment by Original Lori — May 26, 2010 @ 7:35 am

  2. All good thoughts for Patty and family…

    Comment by YesBiscuit! — May 26, 2010 @ 7:46 am

  3. Oh, how horrible. I cannot imagine—the grief of losing one pet, magnified by 6, not to mention the house…what a tragedy.

    Comment by KathyF — May 26, 2010 @ 7:56 am

  4. I can’t imagine such a horror. Thank God the people are alive but losing your home and your dogs - how much can a person take in this world without buckling on their knees.

    Comment by Scout and Freyja — May 26, 2010 @ 8:01 am

  5. Thank you Gina, for bringing this story to light. I can only imagine the horror of losing pets in this way.

    The PayPal was a great idea. I know we’ll all do what we can. Is there anywhere that folks can send cards, condolences, etc. to?

    I know I’ll be sending positive, healing energy to the family in any case, but wondered if there was anything more tangible either by snail mail or on the web in place.

    Thanks again for letting us know about this tragedy. I know we are all mourning with the Johnstone family.

    ~Raven

    Comment by Raven Fabal — May 26, 2010 @ 8:05 am

  6. Words cannot convey the grief…..

    Comment by Liz Palika — May 26, 2010 @ 8:23 am

  7. Oh, and for those who ask — and that should be EVERYONE! — the PayPal account is being handled by Nanci Hanover, a woman I know and will vouch for personally. Every dime of the money will get to the family (aside from the handling fees Paypal takes, of course).

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2010 @ 8:50 am

  8. Truly a very sad night it was and has not gotten any better today. Patty and her family indeed have lost everything. Not that you know me, but I can also vouch for the Paypal account. It is set up for the Flat-Coated Retriever Emergency Health Fund. If you can donate, please do so. If you cannot, just please keep Patty and her family in your thoughts/prayers - they really need it.

    Comment by Catherine Elder — May 26, 2010 @ 10:07 am

  9. It is difficult enough to comprehend the loss of a pet due to natural causes let alone a tragic one.
    Heartfelt prayers to the Johnstone family.

    Comment by Moxie Paws — May 26, 2010 @ 10:14 am

  10. My heart breaks for this family. Many thoughts and prayers headed their way… I’ll be hugging my pups a little tighter tonight- you just never know.

    Comment by Jennie Jones — May 26, 2010 @ 10:26 am

  11. Oh, God. I am so, so sorry to hear this. Thanks so much for posting the PayPal link. Is there also an address for anyone wishing to donate via snail mail?

    Comment by Glenye Oakford — May 26, 2010 @ 10:38 am

  12. I’m trying to get that information now. As you can imagine, the entire family is in shock and we need to not flood her with calls and such. So, we have just a couple of people coordinating.

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2010 @ 10:45 am

  13. This tragedy is just something that I cannot even fathom. My heart is breaking for them. I see Patty quite often at dog shows and we are both members of the regional club. Absolutely devastating. My dogs got hugged so much last night and this morning and will again when I get home. Thanks for posting this, Gina. Margaret @ Islandflats.

    Comment by Margaret Uminsky — May 26, 2010 @ 10:51 am

  14. More information:

    “Just spoke with Patty again. She is so overwhelmed and touched by the outpouring of care and help and wishes to thank everyone so much!!! It looks like they may have a house to move into soon, offered by another friend, Mary Jean, that is currently vacant. I asked her where people can mail things to her and her friend Roger Demares…offered his place of business to accept anything for them, along with the Colesville (NJ) Fire Department. His address is Monroe Equipment Maintenance Inc, 290 N. Church St (Rte. 94), Sparta, NJ 07871, and his phone number there is 973-383-5181. She has teenage kids, but not sure of their sizes. Information coming. Her laptop is gone too, so her only access to anything is via her phone, which is limiting.”

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2010 @ 11:09 am

  15. I saw the message last night before going to bed. I was sick to my stomach just thinking of the tragedy. I can’t even fathom what they are feeling right now. I remember photos of Izzy and Toby as puppies on Flickr. Izzy because I have an Izzy, whom, by the way got hugs all through the night last night. She didn’t mind and licked my arm everytime I woke up.

    Comment by Jill — May 26, 2010 @ 1:32 pm

  16. So profoundly sad.

    My deep condolences to Patty and her family, and to the extended Flat-Coated community.

    Thanks for letting us know how we can help, Gina.

    Comment by Marge — May 26, 2010 @ 1:45 pm

  17. Thanks for the heads-up, Gina. My heart goes out to Patty and her family.

    Comment by Susan — May 26, 2010 @ 2:15 pm

  18. This is so incredibly tragic and sad. My heart breaks.

    Comment by Carol Bryant — May 26, 2010 @ 2:33 pm

  19. More than $3,000 has been donated. I just talked to a mutual friend who talked to Patty, and said the shock is wearing off and the reality is starting to sink in. I can’t begin to imagine.

    Some friends are trying to see if we can interest Ty Pennington and the “Extreme Home Makeover” team to take on this home as a project. Here’s the link to the new group on Facebook. It’s a long-shot, for sure, but who knows?

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

  20. How horrible. Like losing six of your children. My heart goes out to them… I can’t imagine.

    Comment by Kim — May 26, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

  21. Awful. My prayers that the family can get resettled a quickly as possible. I don’t have words to convey how deeply the loss of the dogs must be felt. Impossible to explain to non pet lovers, instinctually understood and felt by those of us who offer part of our soul to our four legged companions.

    Comment by JenniferJ — May 26, 2010 @ 3:08 pm

  22. What a horrible horrible thing. I can’t even begin to imagine.

    Comment by Katie — May 26, 2010 @ 3:23 pm

  23. It sounds to me that they may be getting a dog or puppy really soon. Hopefully, fur therapy will ease the pain. I can’t even imagine a home without a dog.

    Comment by Jill — May 26, 2010 @ 3:52 pm

  24. Yes, a couple of people have offered puppies or dogs. The family will need to decide, of course, but I know if they choose to accept there is nothing like “fur therapy.”

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 26, 2010 @ 4:30 pm

  25. i am completely saddened by this news…

    Comment by sue heron — May 26, 2010 @ 4:33 pm

  26. So sorry to hear this. My heart goes out the family and animals that were lost. xoxoxo

    Comment by Charles — May 26, 2010 @ 7:58 pm

  27. That is so horrible and my personal nightmare. Those poor people. :(

    Comment by Dawn-Renée — May 26, 2010 @ 8:17 pm

  28. I can’t imagine the pain and grief they must be dealing with. Thank you for the links to help them. I will light a candle for their dogs,http://www.gratefulness.org/ca.....&gi=I .

    Comment by Leslie K — May 27, 2010 @ 5:57 am

  29. Just saw you are naming your new Puppy Phoenix! What a wonderful name to honor your beloved pets.

    Comment by Jan Ward — May 27, 2010 @ 8:29 am

  30. Yes, it’s true. One of the other people in the “flatcoat community” has a puppy she will be giving to the family, and that puppy will be named Phoenix. The puppy is going from California to New Jersey, with a stop in Indiana for the FCR “specialty” show, where he will get loaded up with lots of love to take with him to his new family.

    Of course, it’s not just “flatcoat people” who have helped. Animal-lovers all across the country have stepped up with offers of help, from a motor home to clothes (three teens lost all theirs) and, of course, cash donations. More the $4,000 in a day, now on its way to help the family.

    People really can be amazing when others need help. It will never bring back Meadow, Echo, Toby, Izzy, Gator and Mackey, but it will salve the wound while the scars form.

    Update: The news story on the fire.

    And, if your heart can stand it, here is a picture of five of the dogs.

    Comment by Gina Spadafori — May 27, 2010 @ 8:40 am

  31. What a shocking event. So sad, so very, very sad.

    Comment by Star & Casey — May 27, 2010 @ 7:40 pm

  32. This brings tears to my eyes. How unspeakably, heartwrenchingly awful.

    It’s killing me that there are so many places I would like to open my wallet and support, and I can’t even pay my own bills.

    Comment by Susan — May 27, 2010 @ 7:40 pm

  33. So sad. So very, very sad.

    Comment by Star & Casey — May 28, 2010 @ 3:42 am

  34. Just to give everyone a heads up if you read the news article, the information about how the fire started is inaccurate.

    The Johnstones did not have an overloaded circuit or a basement. They have had 4 fire investigators in the house. They have been unable to determine the cause of the fire thus far and may never be able to determine a cause.

    (This information was provided by Patty Johnstone.)

    Comment by Alex V. — May 28, 2010 @ 11:22 am

  35. Well, the inaccuracy of the cause of the fire in the news report does not surprise me. At the beginning of the report, it says a family of four, but it is a family of five that they correctly identify later in the news article. Gina, don’t hire that reporter to your team.

    Comment by Jen — May 30, 2010 @ 1:47 pm

  36. Truly a heart-wrenching story, and my thoughts go out to the Johnstones. It is hard to count your blessings when so much was lost, but I am glad the death toll did not climb higher. Thank goodness for the kind soul who is helping to fill their pet void, and for all the people who are making donations.

    Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — June 1, 2010 @ 2:36 am

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