FELLSMERE — Directors at For the Love of Paws are raising funds to rebuild its pet sanctuary after a Monday fire that killed 11 cats and a tortoise. Four cats that were saved during the blaze remained hospitalized on Tuesday, said Ted Pankiewicz Sr., executive director of the nonprofit organization.
Pankiewicz Sr. said the pet sanctuary at For the Love of Paws will come back bigger and better.
“We plan on (constructing) one large (facility) instead of two separate buildings,” Pankiewicz Sr. said. “We’re going to run everything on the farm. We plan to have the pet sanctuary and food pantry in one building.”
The deadly fire ignited about 5:30 a.m. Monday at the pet sanctuary, located in the 14000 block of 109th Street in Fellsmere, north of County Road 512 and west of Interstate 95. The blaze engulfed two separate cottages, side-by-side, that housed 15 cats, Pankiewicz Sr. said.
“My son (Ted Pankiewicz Jr.) and grandson (Ryder Pankiewicz) live at the property and saved the four cats,” Pankiewicz Sr. said. “They both went into the barn to save the (animals).”
Pankiewicz Jr., who suffered second-degree burns to both his arms and elbows, received medical treatment at the scene, his father said. Pankiewicz Jr., who is the operation director for the organization, was at the property Tuesday cleaning up and setting up temporary fencing around the burnt-out items.
Pankiewicz Jr. said both cabins were engulfed in flames and billowing smoke. The operation director and his son, Ryder, saved a cat named “Socks” along with three others that were living in a patio attached to Cabin 1.
“Socks ran past the door that was in flames. She caught on fire as she jumped into my arms,” Pankiewicz Jr. said. “I was able to get the flames out by wrapping my arms around her and holding her close to my chest.”
Pankiewicz Jr. said he and Ryder ran to the back of the patio and attempted to yank it from the cabin. Ryder lifted up the patio, and the two grabbed the other three cats amid the intense heat and choking smoke.
“I’m incredibly proud of my son. He showed a lot of bravery,” Pankiewicz Jr. said. “(Ryder) was terrified just as I was. He put himself in harm’s way to save the lives of the cats.”
Pankiewicz Jr. and Ryder live in a separate home on the property, about 200 feet from the cabins that were destroyed in the inferno.
Indian River County Fire Rescue crews believe an electrical issue from an air conditioning unit may have caused the blaze, according to sanctuary officials. Pankiewicz Sr. organized a GoFundMe page to garner funds for a new facility.
As of late Tuesday, the page had more than $32,000 in donations out of its $45,000 goal.
“The support has been fantastic,” Pankiewicz Sr. said. “We want to thank the community for their continuous support.”
Pankiewicz Jr. asked the community to pray for his girlfriend, Fawn Wittenrich, who was the main caretaker of the animals.
“This has really devastated her,” Pankiewicz Jr. said.
For the Love of Paws was created in 2014 to ensure the pets of elderly residents would always have a safe place of shelter when their owners could no longer care for them, the GoFundMe page shows. The sanctuary also helps pay veterinary bills for seniors and veterans.
“We’re overwhelmed with the immediate response. We are very grateful,” Pankiewicz Jr. said. “We would not have grown into the foundation we’ve become today without the support of the community.”
For the Love of Paws has delivered more than 12,000 pounds of free pet food every month through the Paws Meals on Wheels program.
“We will rebuild, and we will do it with the support of our incredible community,” sanctuary officials said. “Please keep our team, the rescued cats, and the animals we lost in your thoughts.”
The organization’s food pantry is located at 12198 County Road 512 in Fellsmere, about four miles from the pet sanctuary. The group’s thrift store is located at 931 12th Street in Vero Beach.
More information about For the Love of Paws can be found on its website.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
