The unimaginable... ALL OUR ANIMALS LIVED through the fire!!!

Glad all the animals made it :) Stay STRONG buddy. Life takes some crazy turns sometimes. Things WILL get better soon

Best,
Steve

I have to start off by saying that I have never been a big fan of forums of any kind. In my mind they were a haven for misinformation and users who had not much good to say about anything. After reading the entire list of responses to Bruce's tragedy, I am happy to say that this group of real people and supporters has changed my mind 100%. My name is Norm, and this is the first time I have ever posted anything on a forum and l look forward to reading more and getting more involved. My wife and I run DINO Reptiles out of Ottawa and have been lucky enough to be trusted to look after 5 of Bruce's pythons (some of them gravid) and one of his gravid corns. My hat is off to all of you who have offered support by way of a message of encouragement or offer to foster some of his friends.

OMG!!!!! I'm so glad your snakes made it!!! Incredible!

Bruce, I appologize for just writing now (I had a PC crash), not that important now, but I am so happy that you and yours made it out ok. You know that I have the upmost respect for you. I've always thought you were a stand up guy. I've helped folks through fire emergencies before (including animal injury, rehab etc). It sounds like your guys just need some fostering. Please let me know if I can be of any help now or in the long run.
Again, I'm thrilled you and yours are ok, Please let me know and keep us updated.
Rusty

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Originally Posted by dino

I have to start off by saying that I have never been a big fan of forums of any kind. In my mind they were a haven for misinformation and users who had not much good to say about anything. After reading the entire list of responses to Bruce's tragedy, I am happy to say that this group of real people and supporters has changed my mind 100%. My name is Norm, and this is the first time I have ever posted anything on a forum and l look forward to reading more and getting more involved. My wife and I run DINO Reptiles out of Ottawa and have been lucky enough to be trusted to look after 5 of Bruce's pythons (some of them gravid) and one of his gravid corns. My hat is off to all of you who have offered support by way of a message of encouragement or offer to foster some of his friends.

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Norm thank you so much for offering to help out Bruce. Bruce has a lot of friends here but so many of us are across the border in the U.S. (and around the world for that matter) that we cannot help with the fostering due to the paperwork involved in bringing his snakes across the border. The relief felt when we heard that you and your friends were stepping up to help, to take on these snakes so Bruce could catch his breath and deal with his life - well Norm it's pretty damn wonderful!

I'm sorry your experience with online communities has been poor in the past. If I may say so myself we do work hard around here to change that image and make this about the snakes, about folks being decent to each other and just acting pretty much like we would if we were sitting around somebody's livingroom gabbing with each other. It's a family friendly place and I can say there's few like it around. Hope you stick around. :)

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Originally Posted by CTReptileRescue

Bruce, I appologize for just writing now (I had a PC crash), not that important now, but I am so happy that you and yours made it out ok. You know that I have the upmost respect for you. I've always thought you were a stand up guy. I've helped folks through fire emergencies before (including animal injury, rehab etc). It sounds like your guys just need some fostering. Please let me know if I can be of any help now or in the long run.
Again, I'm thrilled you and yours are ok, Please let me know and keep us updated.
Rusty

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It's been so great Rusty that these folks from the Ottawa area have helped Bruce out. To take on that number of snakes without notice, with such open hearts and giving souls - well it just makes me smile. A wonderful bunch of good people and true herpers (I hope they stick around here too :)).

Glad to hear all your scalekids made it out alright.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

(I hope they stick around here too :)).

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I can't speak for anyone else, but for me... DEFINITELY.

This is by far one of the most awesome forums that I have come across ever. I think Bruce is really lucky to have you guys as a part of his online family. You're a great bunch here and it really, really shows.

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Originally Posted by Mettle

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me... DEFINITELY.

This is by far one of the most awesome forums that I have come across ever. I think Bruce is really lucky to have you guys as a part of his online family. You're a great bunch here and it really, really shows.

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Well pull up a virtual couch and stick around Stephan. :)

Bruce would do this in an instant for any one of us so what we are doing is just what family (even virtual ones) do for each other in times like these.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dino

I have to start off by saying that I have never been a big fan of forums of any kind. In my mind they were a haven for misinformation and users who had not much good to say about anything. After reading the entire list of responses to Bruce's tragedy, I am happy to say that this group of real people and supporters has changed my mind 100%. My name is Norm, and this is the first time I have ever posted anything on a forum and l look forward to reading more and getting more involved. My wife and I run DINO Reptiles out of Ottawa and have been lucky enough to be trusted to look after 5 of Bruce's pythons (some of them gravid) and one of his gravid corns. My hat is off to all of you who have offered support by way of a message of encouragement or offer to foster some of his friends.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mettle

I can't speak for anyone else, but for me... DEFINITELY.

This is by far one of the most awesome forums that I have come across ever. I think Bruce is really lucky to have you guys as a part of his online family. You're a great bunch here and it really, really shows.

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Incredible.

And here, is some of the proof, that something so good can come out of something so terrible.

Just an update, we have been on the go all day...

I came from the place, our last walkthrough. And it truly IS a miracle.

I have always said that jerome should be a snake keeper. He has this capacity to find snakes, or rather they find him. EVERY snake I have ever lost Jerome has found by simply walking into the room after I turn it end to end.

I was in the snake room for about an hour trying to salvage what I could. I was in and out so many time. I had upended things trying to see if Maude was still in there.

Jerome walks in to find a tub to use to haul stuff out with and come out with Maude in hand. :D

Then I decided to systematically go through the racks. Just open every tub, take the hides that are the hard plastic exo terras, as I was sure they would not be damaged and could be salvaged, and I needed to remove all the tubs so I could pull the heat tape off the shelves as well.

I pull the last tub open and find a big fat BP in there. It was Samantha!

I had been talking to Zoe, and I could not recall seeing her when we did inventory. She must have gotten missed, and at some point parked herself in Kevin's tub and just rode out a few nights in there.

It is unreal, unimaginable and just such a relief.

I got everyone out in the end.

We may go back as Jer wants to dig through the CDs and DVDs and remove them all from their cases if they do not bulldoze the building on us. That is our last thing to do. And if we get back and find the place in ruins that is fine too.

We got a storage space thanks to the good people on this site. We can place what we have in there for now and figure it all out later.

We are so grateful for every kind word, comment, and donation. We have been 100% reliant on friends and community for everything since we ran out that door.

We stopped at our friend Coll's house this morning on the way over to the apt and the bell rang. It was our next door neighbour, who I always remember because he had a sticker on his recycling box that said "REAL men are kind to animals". He tracked us down and gave us an update on the fire.

Himself, his baby and his GF got out. He grabbed his computer's hard drive and that was all they made it out with. They kicked open their doors on the way out and their two dogs and two cats escaped and were found today!

They are with family and he says they are so happy to be alive that nothing else matters.

I have to deal with stuff so this has to be brief.

I just wanted to touch base.

Bruce