HOULTON, Maine — The date of March 12, 2014 is forever etched into the memory of supporters of the Ark Animal Sanctuary.
Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of a terrible fire that destroyed the Ark’s new shelter for animals located on 91 Old Woodstock Road and took the lives of 16 cats.
One year later, Ark officials are optimistic that the rebuilding process will be completed this fall, but the emotional scars will likely take longer to heal.
“It has been a crazy year for sure,” said Loraine Monfils, director of the AAS. “We have hit many bumps in the road, but everyone has been very kind and generous.”
Fire officials were never able to determine for sure what sparked that early morning blaze that leveled the Sanctuary. The small, one-story building was only open for about four months and marked the culmination of four years of hard work and dedication by numerous volunteers. The building served as a home for felines, many of which were able to lounge freely, and included a medical-quarantine area, kitchen and loft.
Just a few months eariler, Ark officials celebrated the building’s grand opening with an open house ceremony Nov. 2. The group was originally searching for an old farmhouse to become its home, but when a 40-acre parcel of land on Old Woodstock Road was offered, steps were taken to acquire the property. That acquisition took place in April 2010 and plans were soon put into action to obtain a building to be placed on the land. Ruth and Sonny Golding of Smyrna Mills donated a small house to the Ark after reading a newspaper article that the group was in need of a building.
The refuge was viewed as the first step in building a community area, complete with dog walking trails and a dog park where animals could roam without a leash.
Shortly after the fire, assistance requests started pouring in, Monfils said. Two maps can be found inside the Hollywood Pet Salon office in downtown Houlton, with pushpins showcasing all of the areas the Ark has received donations from.
“We received donations from all over the U.S and 14 different countries,” she said.
Artists from around the country, and the world, including the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Wales, created artwork, featuring images of the cats that perished in the fire.
The original intent was to auction the pieces as a fundraiser, but Monfils said selling the pieces could not equal the sentimental value they held. Instead, the artwork will be hung at the new sanctuary, upon its completion.
A special showing of those pieces of art will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at the Horn Restaurant as part of a buffet dinner/art showcase. The cost is $24.95 per person, with a limited number of tickets available. For more information, call 532-7387.
The artwork will also be displayed at the Blue Moon/Visions Gallery at a future date.
The rebuilding process has been a slow one for a number of reasons. First, getting the insurance money from the fire proved challenging.
“It took nearly four months because the insurance company was not going to pay out,” Monfils said. “At the end I had to write a letter to the board of directors and the president. Three days later, we got the full $80,000 payout.”
A shell of a new building has been erected on the property, complete with a well, plumbing and a roof. Lousiana-Pacific donated materials to cover the building and work was progressing nicely until it became too cold to continue.
“Everything that has been done so far has been paid for,” Monfils said. “As soon as it warms up, we will start again.”
Ark officials are sitting with $85,000 in the bank to complete construction. A separate account has been established to cover the HVAC (heating, air conditioning) system, which was estimated at $13,000. Thus far, about $8,000 has been raised for that fund.
One hiccup in the construction arose, however, when the Ark was told that if volunteers were used on the site to help build, additional insurance coverage would be needed. Monfils said the group has yet to decide if it will pay the extra premium or seek an alternative route for construction. The goal is to see the project complete in time for a grand opening on Nov. 3.
In addition to the insurance money, donations totaling nearly $50,000 have been received from around the country and world to aid in both construction and caring of animals in foster care.
“The support has been overwhelming,” Monfils said. “We have supporters we have never met, nor had any contact with. We had a lady in Texas apply for a grant for us that brought in $500. We have made so many connections. It is absolutely incredible. We can’t help but succeed with the support we have had.”
