Community Rallies To 'Find Hope And Healing' After Kennel Fire

WEST CHICAGO, IL — It's been less than a week since a deadly fire claimed the lives of nearly 30 dogs at D and D Kennels in West Chicago and amid the devastating loss a community has rallied together to support owner Garrett Mercado, other shelters who boarded their dogs there, and the dogs who survived the blaze.

"We are all in mourning and truly without words," Chicago Animal Advocates, who lost two dogs in the fire, wrote on Facebook.

A Heartbreaking Tragedy

Garrett Mercado's D and D Kennels boarded dozens of dogs to assist several shelters throughout the Chicagoland area. The shelter was unofficially known as a "bully shelter," which means it readily took in American Staffordshire terriers and other dogs commonly known as pitbulls.

Around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 14, a patrol officer noticed fire coming from D and D Kennels at 2N441 County Farm Rd., which was also the home of owner Garrett Mercado. The officer reportedly rushed into the burning building and was able to help get more than 20 dogs to safety. Others fled during the chaos. In total, nearly 30 dogs died as a result of the fire, including some of Mercado's own pets.

Remembering Nearly 30 Lives Lost

On Wednesday night, the Illinois-based Fetching Tails Foundation, which had dogs boarded at D and D Kennels, illuminated 31 sandbags of flameless candles and observed 31 minutes of silence. Throughout the video, you can see Lynda, the foundation's sole survivor of the fire walking past memorials posted for the dogs.

Lynda is still available for adoption.

Chicago Animal Advocates owner Angelica Staniszewska lost personal dog, Rambo, and a foster dog, Reggie in Monday's blaze. Staniszewska wrote on Facebook, "Rambo was burned almost beyond recognition and had to be identified by his microchip. My vet does not believe he suffered and that the smoke killed him before the fire got to him. I am trying really hard to believe that is true."

"Reggie made it out of the fire. But amidst the chaos of loose dogs, he was attacked and killed by another dog."

Picking Up The Pieces

Since Monday, owners of other shelters, local residents, and strangers have begun efforts to help Mercado and the affected animal shelters to pic up the pieces left by the fire. A GoFundMe was started to help Mercado rebuild D and D Kennels, which Daily Herald reports he had been renting and working to upgrade with the property owner.

The campaign's original goal was $10,000. As of Friday, more than $85,000 had been donated and the goal had been raised to $100,000, with donations and words of support coming from as far away as Oregon.

A second GoFundMe was started to aid the more than a dozen other shelters impacted by the fire. As of Friday, it had raised more than $27,000. Affected shelters include:

• A Caring Place All Breed Rescue
• **All Life is Valuable NFP
• Blackdog All Breed Dog Rescue
• Chicago Animal Advocates
• Chicago Bully Breed Rescue
• CPR Fund K9 Rescue
• **Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue
• Fetching Tails Foundation
• Have a Heart Rescue & Adoption
• Incredi-bull Rescue
• K9 4 Keeps
• MCP Rescue + Outreach
• Pets and Vets USA
• Players for Pits
• Tiny N Tall Rescue

Shelters marked with an asterisk declined financial assistance, according to the GoFundMe page.

Those who want to help can also donate items to DuPage County Animal Shelters, which took in 30 surviving dogs after the fire.

In a post on Facebook, DuPage County Animal Shelters echoed the sentiments of many throughout the community, "Our hope is that we can find hope and healing together."

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Lead images via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner

Video via DuPage County Animal Services