A house fire in Wilson County on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of over 30 rescue cats. The property was owned by Alice Pierce, who ran Purrfect Hearts Cat Rescue from her home.
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The Silver Lake Volunteer Fire Department reported that firefighters were dispatched to the residence at 5722 NC-58 before 7 p.m. The house has been declared a total loss, and it is believed that as many as 30 cats died in the incident.
Alice Pierce sustained injuries while trying to save the cats and was taken to the hospital with burns covering 15% of her body, according to an online fundraiser set up for her. Alison Schaefer, who operates her own cat rescue and collaborates with Pierce, expressed empathy, stating, "I would've done the same thing. I would've tried to get in the house to save the cats. I wouldn't have thought about myself."
Schaefer described the situation as a significant concern for the community, noting the impact of losing Purrfect Hearts, especially given its role in coordinating neutering services for rescue cats. She emphasized that this tragedy would create a gap in cat care services in Wilson County, potentially overwhelming local shelters.
In response to the disaster, several rescues and pet stores are accepting donations of canned cat food, blankets, and towels to support Purrfect Hearts. The rescue organization expressed gratitude through social media for the support it has received during this challenging time.
Fire crews were present at the scene until about 3 a.m. on Thursday. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the State Fire Marshal's Office.