A community comes together to help one of its own following a fire that injured an 82-year-old man at this home and dog sanctuary.
The fire happened Wednesday afternoon in Oakland, Arkansas, just north of Mountain Home.
While the remains of Perry Boore’s home were smoldering the background, the day after the fire community members gathered to help continue his labor of love.
"Perry is just amazing, his heart goes out ot these animals," says Boore’s neighbor, Tim Green.
"He's willing to risk his own life, and would have had he not been stopped," he says.
Oakland-Promise Land Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lucy Soltysik says Boore turned his property into a sanctuary for abandoned dogs, years ago. At the time of the fire, she says he had roughly 120 dogs.
"He lives and breathes dogs," says Soltysik.
"[Boore] goes to Wal-Mart and gets cookies and stuff and sells them outside in the cold, the rain and the snow to support his dogs," she says.
Boore’s passion for dogs extended into his home as well. When the fire started, roughly 24 dogs were inside. While some were saved, nearly half of them died.
"I see the door burst open, and he's screaming my name and the smoke is just pouring out," says Boore’s assistant, Wendy Maher.
"He kept trying to run in there, and I said, ‘you can't go back in there’" she says.
"First thing I saw when I arrived yesterday was Perry sitting on the tailgate, badly burnt," says neighbor Tim Green, "He was still smiling, and in good spirits, but upset about the dogs."
During the fire, a number of dog pins were opened out of fear the flames might spread,.
Many of the dogs ended up in the woods, but Maher says community members searched for hours to bring them back home.
"Ever since this happened, people have been coming out left and right," she says.
The efforts of Boore’s passion have also brought in more than $7,000 in donations as of Thursday night.
However, those who know Boore say one need still remains.
"The greatest need of all is to find homes for these animals," says Green.
The local fire chief says the Boore believe the fire was started by a propane heater.
Boore is believed to have suffered serious smoke inhalation, and is currently in the hospital in stable condition.
The fire happened Wednesday afternoon in Oakland, Arkansas, just north of Mountain Home.
While the remains of Perry Boore’s home were smoldering the background, the day after the fire community members gathered to help continue his labor of love.
"Perry is just amazing, his heart goes out ot these animals," says Boore’s neighbor, Tim Green.
"He's willing to risk his own life, and would have had he not been stopped," he says.
Oakland-Promise Land Volunteer Fire Department Chief Lucy Soltysik says Boore turned his property into a sanctuary for abandoned dogs, years ago. At the time of the fire, she says he had roughly 120 dogs.
"He lives and breathes dogs," says Soltysik.
"[Boore] goes to Wal-Mart and gets cookies and stuff and sells them outside in the cold, the rain and the snow to support his dogs," she says.
Boore’s passion for dogs extended into his home as well. When the fire started, roughly 24 dogs were inside. While some were saved, nearly half of them died.
"I see the door burst open, and he's screaming my name and the smoke is just pouring out," says Boore’s assistant, Wendy Maher.
"He kept trying to run in there, and I said, ‘you can't go back in there’" she says.
"First thing I saw when I arrived yesterday was Perry sitting on the tailgate, badly burnt," says neighbor Tim Green, "He was still smiling, and in good spirits, but upset about the dogs."
During the fire, a number of dog pins were opened out of fear the flames might spread,.
Many of the dogs ended up in the woods, but Maher says community members searched for hours to bring them back home.
"Ever since this happened, people have been coming out left and right," she says.
The efforts of Boore’s passion have also brought in more than $7,000 in donations as of Thursday night.
However, those who know Boore say one need still remains.
"The greatest need of all is to find homes for these animals," says Green.
The local fire chief says the Boore believe the fire was started by a propane heater.
Boore is believed to have suffered serious smoke inhalation, and is currently in the hospital in stable condition.
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