Fairfax Hunt kennel fire this morning!

[2bayboys]

From the Loudoun Times:

By Jason Jacks
Source: Loudoun Times-Mirror
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 2009
UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 2009

An early morning blaze tore through a barn and kennel located along a rural road south of Leesburg March 11, killing 16 dogs and three horses.
The fire, which started sometime before 7:15 a.m., occurred at facility used by the Fairfax Hunt club. The facility, which is just off Stone School Lane and a couple miles north of U.S. 50, houses stables and kennels for fox-hunting enthusiasts.

At least 60 animals, mostly dogs, were at the property when the fire broke out.

“It's a sad way for them to go,” said the property's owner, Randolph Rouse, who said among the dead dogs were 10 full-grown hounds and six puppies. The three horses killed where the only horses at the facility at the time of the fire, he said.

The commanding officer on site, Doug Rambo, said the facility was fully engulfed when firefighting units arrived. He described the fire as intense.

“When we got here, we knew we weren't going in,” he said.

As of noon, neighbors and county animal control officials were still rounding up wayward dogs that had fled the property when the fire erupted. At least 40 have so far been located.

Meanwhile, those dogs hurt in the fire were being tended to by teams of veterinarians who had descended on the property.

Several veterinarians could be seen aiding one dog who was covered in dark burn marks.

Responding to the blaze were firefighting units from Arcola, Aldie, Dulles South, Purcellville, Leesburg, Hamilton, Sterling and Middleburg.

No persons were injured. A cause has not yet been determined.

:no:

[ChocoMare]

Oh how absolutely horrible! :no: :cry: :(

Many prayers for all affected. :sadsmile:

[equineartworks]

just heartbreaking...so terrible :(:(

[Fairview Horse Center]

Very sad. Fairfax Hunt's secretary boards her horse with me. It is a devastating loss. My thoughts and prayers are with them as they deal with this horrible tragedy.

[LexInVA]

This is depressing. I hope they find out what caused this so it can be dealt with to prevent future incidents like this. Poor dogs. :cry:

[VAHorseGurl]

So close to 'home' for those of us who live in this area. My thoughts and prayers go out to those effected by this tragedy.

[Huntertwo]

Oh, how sad....:cry: Those poor dogs and puppies. Horses too.:no:

[JSwan]

I guess few of y'all foxhunt, and many of you may not even approve of hunting. That's ok.

But let me tell you something about foxhounds.

They are loved and cherished and spoken of many years after their deaths.

Many members know these hounds as puppies - we walk them all summer, lavish attention on them, give them the "dreaded baths", and cheer them on at hound shows.

As they get older, we see they start to prefer the pack to a pat on the head and it makes us a little sad. Like seeing a toddler race away from you to be with his friends at school.

Then we see them do silly young hound things like speak on the wrong line and be ignored by the other hounds - very embarrassing for a hound.

The day the pack honors that hound when he speaks is a wonderful day - that hound has won the respect of his brethren and has come into his own.

We cheer that hound, and the others, all fall and winter. In the spring and summer, more puppies, more walking and more work.

It grieves us to see a hound start to show his age.. to not be as fleet of foot as he once was. And worse - to be left behind with the "senior citizens" in the kennel for the first time, while the pack goes off for a long day. A very sad day for an old(er) hound.

When one passes away or has to be put down, it's a bittersweet day. We are sad to see another one gone... but oh - what a joyous life that hound had.

For a beloved hound or horse to lose his life in a fire.... all those hounds... all those horses.... it tears a heart to pieces. The members will never hear those voices again - not a nicker, not a bark or howl.

For the surviving hounds that are suffering right now, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Hope that the animals that lost their lives died quickly, and be thankful no humans were harmed.

My deepest condolences to the Masters, Staff and members of Fairfax Hunt.

[Mia412]

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Fairfax members and staff, and for the recovery of the surviving hounds.

JSwan, what a beautiful tribute to all the beloved foxhounds. As someone from a hunting family, it brought tears to my eyes.

[3horsemom]

I guess few of y'all foxhunt, and many of you may not even approve of hunting. That's ok.

But let me tell you something about foxhounds.

They are loved and cherished and spoken of many years after their deaths.

Many members know these hounds as puppies - we walk them all summer, lavish attention on them, give them the "dreaded baths", and cheer them on at hound shows.

As they get older, we see they start to prefer the pack to a pat on the head and it makes us a little sad. Like seeing a toddler race away from you to be with his friends at school.

Then we see them do silly young hound things like speak on the wrong line and be ignored by the other hounds - very embarrassing for a hound.

The day the pack honors that hound when he speaks is a wonderful day - that hound has won the respect of his brethren and has come into his own.

We cheer that hound, and the others, all fall and winter. In the spring and summer, more puppies, more walking and more work.

It grieves us to see a hound start to show his age.. to not be as fleet of foot as he once was. And worse - to be left behind with the "senior citizens" in the kennel for the first time, while the pack goes off for a long day. A very sad day for an old(er) hound.

When one passes away or has to be put down, it's a bittersweet day. We are sad to see another one gone... but oh - what a joyous life that hound had.

For a beloved hound or horse to lose his life in a fire.... all those hounds... all those horses.... it tears a heart to pieces. The members will never hear those voices again - not a nicker, not a bark or howl.

For the surviving hounds that are suffering right now, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Hope that the animals that lost their lives died quickly, and be thankful no humans were harmed.

My deepest condolences to the Masters, Staff and members of Fairfax Hunt.

what a beautiful tribute. i am so sorry for all involved.

[RoyalTRider]

JSwan, thanks for your post. It is great to hear about that aspect of hunt dogs at this sad time.

[Little Valkyrie]

I guess few of y'all foxhunt, and many of you may not even approve of hunting. That's ok.

But let me tell you something about foxhounds.

They are loved and cherished and spoken of many years after their deaths.

Many members know these hounds as puppies - we walk them all summer, lavish attention on them, give them the "dreaded baths", and cheer them on at hound shows.

As they get older, we see they start to prefer the pack to a pat on the head and it makes us a little sad. Like seeing a toddler race away from you to be with his friends at school.

Then we see them do silly young hound things like speak on the wrong line and be ignored by the other hounds - very embarrassing for a hound.

The day the pack honors that hound when he speaks is a wonderful day - that hound has won the respect of his brethren and has come into his own.

We cheer that hound, and the others, all fall and winter. In the spring and summer, more puppies, more walking and more work.

It grieves us to see a hound start to show his age.. to not be as fleet of foot as he once was. And worse - to be left behind with the "senior citizens" in the kennel for the first time, while the pack goes off for a long day. A very sad day for an old(er) hound.

When one passes away or has to be put down, it's a bittersweet day. We are sad to see another one gone... but oh - what a joyous life that hound had.

For a beloved hound or horse to lose his life in a fire.... all those hounds... all those horses.... it tears a heart to pieces. The members will never hear those voices again - not a nicker, not a bark or howl.

For the surviving hounds that are suffering right now, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Hope that the animals that lost their lives died quickly, and be thankful no humans were harmed.

My deepest condolences to the Masters, Staff and members of Fairfax Hunt.

What a beautiful tribute to the horses and hounds. I love the hounds here in Old Chatham, and it is truly wonderful to watch and help them progress into mature hunters, and their individual personalities and quirks make it all the more interesting. Everyone involved, especially huntsman, staff, and masters, have my absolute deepest sympathies. :cry:

[twofatponies]

Too sad. :(

I wish the survivors a speedy recovery and condolences to the hunt.

Hounds are amazing animals.

[Trevelyan96]

Wonderful tribute JSwan. My heart goes out to the MFH, huntsmen, and all the members of Fairfax. It's a heartbreaking thing. I hope the injured hounds can recover and be free of pain quickly.

[suz]

how very sad--what an awful way to die. barn fire is one of my biggest fears, and why i never lock any animals in a building if i can help it. jingles for the injured to heal well and fast.

[asanders]

I read about the fire earlier today, but JSwan, your tribute brought the tears to my eyes.

I understand that members of a neighboring hunt have offered temporary accomodations for the pack and a huntsman until things get sorted.

Send healing thoughts their way please.

[dawglover]

Thanks JSwan for putting into words what so many of your fellow foxhunters were feeling and thinking.

My deepest condolences to Fairfax.

[MintHillFarm]

SO sorry, how horrible. I can't imagine the terrible loss everyone connected (as well as others who are not) feel. My sympathies from upstate NY...

[danceronice]

Oh no puppies (with the note I tend to call all dogs of any age puppies). And horses.

Though did it kind of make anyone smile a little to read of the vets "descending" on the scene? Thoughts and prayers to them as well as to everyone dealing with this.

Is there any word yet on the dogs mentioned who fled the property? Have they all been accounted for?

[2DogsFarm]

So sad.

JSwan: thanks for your eloquent tribute to those lost

[Arado*TB]

Godspeed and many condolences.

[JSwan]

[QUOTE=danceronice;3942970
Is there any word yet on the dogs mentioned who fled the property? Have they all been accounted for?[/QUOTE]

It is my understanding that all hounds have been accounted for. Members and staff quickly erected panels to contain the hounds and a trailer was brought in to provide shelter. Injured hounds are being attended to by several local veterinarians. I believe they are expected to recover.

[pema]

I am so sorry. There really are no fitting words of consolation.
This will take time.

http://enlightenedhorsemanship.net