TOWN OF POTSDAM, New York (WWNY) – In May, we met Aurora, an Australian Shepherd taken in by No Dogs Left Behind owner Jeffrey Beri, after being rescued from a house fire in Massena. In October, flames tore through her new home. She didn’t escape this time.
“None of them will be forgotten; I can assure you that,” said Beri.
Aurora, along with 42 other dogs, perished in a kennel fire in October. Beri says two staff members were on the town of Canton property when it happened. He was in New York City on business when he got the call.
“It’s the most devastating moment, the darkest moment of my life,” he said.
An investigation determined the fire started after a plastic fan was too close to a kerosene heater. The cause was ruled accidental. Beri says anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong.
“Anyone who would attack a foundation at a time like that speaks of who they are,” he said.
The fire investigation also says the kennel didn’t have smoke detectors. Beri says that’s not true – that the kennel had resources to fight a fire.
“We did have them. As I mentioned – fire extinguishers; we had 5 with one outside, 100-foot retractable hoses, which were always on,” he said.
Beri recently held a memorial service for the dogs that were lost in the fire. There are plaques to honor each dog lost. Staff, animal activists and friends were there Saturday.
“We’ve shed thousands of tears, all of us, and to be together to talk about our experiences, to laugh and cry was most important for us for closure,” said Beri.
Beri says he hopes to rebuild as soon as possible, though when, he doesn’t know.
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