The Browning family lost six cats and their home in an electrical fire. Three pets were rescued and now require professional care.
CHARLAC, Mo. — A St. Louis County family is rebuilding after losing several pets and their home in a recent fire.
Three more pets survived and now require professional care.
For Carla Browning, returning home is bittersweet.
“It's no fun to replace everything and start over,” said Carla Browning.
On Leap Day, Browning was at work when his neighbor called and told him his house was on fire.
“The first thing I asked on the phone was, 'Did you take your pet out?'” Browning said.
“We love our baby,” Stephanie Delhaik-Kress said. “They are part of the family and always will be.”
By the time the smoke cleared, Browning and her husband had lost six cats in the fire.
“They took the cats out one by one and they were all gone,” Browning said.
“I know it broke her heart to lose her six pets,” Delhaik Kress said.
The two pets that survived the fire had to be rushed to Brentwood Animal Hospital.
“Tabitha and Ginger went to the vet that night and were on oxygen for 24 hours,” Browning said. “Ginger is still coughing a little.”
“My mother doesn’t have the extra funds to spend on ever-increasing veterinary bills, because a week later, very interestingly, a missing cat that had been hiding in the house and couldn’t be found. 'Because we found one in the basement,' Delhaik-Kress said.
“Her throat was extremely inflamed,” Browning said. “She didn't eat anything for four days. She didn't want anything to do with her food.”
They have insurance, but it won't cover the cost of professional veterinary care for the surviving animals.
If you want to help them get back on their feet, click here.
