By Kenneth Heard
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
JONESBORO, Ark. — Dozens of animals kept in locked kennels perished Thursday morning when a fire destroyed a Blytheville veterinarian’s clinic, fire officials said.
The blaze began at 1:12 a.m. in B.R. Cato’s clinic at 5812 N. Arkansas 61 and the building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived, said Blytheville Fire Department Capt. Rex Wilhite.
About 40 dogs and cats died of smoke inhalation and fire, Wilhite said. No humans were injured.
“It’s terrible. Terrible,” he said. “It’s hard to imagine those animals being locked in there and trying to get out.” Officials don’t know what caused the blaze. Investigators with Cato’s insurance company, along with Blytheville fire officials, will inspect the fire scene today to determine a cause.
Cato opened his clinic on Arkansas 61, just outside the northern edge of the city limits, in 1998. The clinic had been used by another veterinarian for more than 25 years prior, Wilhite said.
Workers at the clinic said they will resume business today in a building next to the burned clinic.
“We start from the basics, but we plan to open again,” said Paula Edwards, a clinic employee.
Cato was not available for comment; he left to pick up medicine to begin stocking the new clinic, Edwards said.
Cato often took in animals that police confiscated from owners in abuse cases, said Shirley Connealy, president of the Blytheville Humane Society.
“He would take in any animal,” she said. "`Rock’ would take animals home with him after a rough surgery so he could watch them overnight.
“He’s a good guy,” she said.
Connealy said the society will assist Cato in resuming his business.
“Everybody’s devastated by this,” Edwards said. “We had to call pet owners and tell them what happened. It’s very tough.” Many of the animals were being kept overnight after having undergone surgery, she said. Others were placed under observation to determine sicknesses.
Edwards said the clinic usually closes at 5 p.m., but employees stayed late Wednesday so pet owners could pick up their animals after work. “I’m sure they are glad they picked up their pets last night,” she said.
On Thursday, pet owners went to the clinic to get the remains of their animals, Edwards said.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the community,” she said. “It’s just an awful thing.” Firefighters spent much of Thursday putting out “hot spots,” or flare-ups from embers, Wilhite said. The building’s roof collapsed and many of the walls toppled.
Wilhite said he took his beagle to Cato’s clinic last week for surgery, but the dog did not spend the night there.
“It makes you think,” he said. “This is one of the worst things I’ve seen.
“It sets on your mind, thinking of those animals in there.” Thursday’s blaze is the second major business fire this month in Blytheville.
A Jan. 3 fire damaged the Blytheville Holiday Inn on East Main Street by Interstate 55 and the Perkins Bakery and Restaurant. No one was injured in the fire. Owner Don Houseworth said he intends to open the restaurant within two months.