A fundraiser has been set up for the animal hospital in Durham that was destroyed by a fire last week.

Seven cats were killed after an accidental fire broke out at Falconbridge Animal Hospital. Durham officials confirmed that the fire originated in the break room of the facility.

The fire was extinguished on Tuesday evening, but rekindled and broke out again early Wednesday morning.

More than a dozen dogs and one iguana were rescued from the facility and have been treated for smoke inhalation. No employees or firefighters were injured.

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Falconbridge Animal Hospital. At the time of writing, the fundraiser has already raised $9,920 of the $10,000 goal.

The fundraiser shares the story of Dr. Shelli Karl-McKinney and her staff at Falconbridge Animal Hospital.

On the night of Tuesday the 6th of August, Falconbridge Animal Hospital caught fire by an unknown source. Dr. Shelli Karl-McKinney rushed to the clinic only to find her facility and company that she has built for 20+ years engulfed in flames. They rushed in to try to save as many animals as they could. When she went in, the cat room had already been saturated with smoke and therefore all of them perished in the fire, including her very own 19 year old cat pirate. All of the dogs that were in the back of the clinic were rescued and sent to the emergency hospital across the street. Dr. Karl and her team spent the entire night making sure that the animals were safe but all they could think about was how much their care for animals would be impacted in the near future. After the fire crew left around 2:30, another fire broke out. But this time it was a lot bigger than the first one. After spending all night making sure the fire was out, the reality set in that her new building of only 8 years was gone. Everything inside was also damaged, leaving them with nothing.

Related Stories
‹
Police: Hillsborough Woman Dies After Car Wreck Along I-85 in Durham
Durham Police are investigating a fatal crash that happened near the I-85 and U.S. 15-501 exchange and killed 39-year-old Claudia Lopez.
Chapel Hill Police Identify, Charge Third in High-Speed Chase and Shooting From January
Chapel Hill Police delivered 17 charges stemming from the Jan. 25 shooting to 19-year-old Maurice Keys as he was held in Durham County.
Chapel Hill Tire Announces Opening of its 12th Location: Durham Homestead Market
Chapel Hill Tire, a trusted name in automotive care across the Triangle, is excited to announce the grand opening of its 12th location at 5588 Highgate Rd, Durham, NC. This new store marks another milestone in Chapel Hill Tire’s commitment to providing exceptional auto care and fostering a positive, service-driven experience for customers and employees alike.
Photo Gallery: Winter Storm Drops Several Inches of Snow on Orange, Durham Counties
Wednesday's winter storm left behind several inches of snow in Orange and Durham Counties. Check out our local photo gallery!
UNC Grad Rebecca Lobach Named as Third Soldier in Airliner, Army Helicopter Crash
The U.S. Army revealed UNC alumna and Triangle native Rebecca Lobach as one of the soliders in the helicopter and plane crash on Jan. 29.
Durham's Book Harvest Earns $250,000 to Expand 'Books on Break' Summer Program
The Durham nonprofit Book Harvest received a major grant to help fund and expand its book distribution program for summer reading.
Durham Police Arrest 2 Teenagers For Shooting at Trooper, Car Chase in Orange County
Two teenagers arrested in Durham face a litany of charges after a multi-agency investigation stemming from an incident in Chapel Hill.
North Carolina Home Insurance Premium Base Rates Increasing About 15% by Mid-2026
Base rates for North Carolina homeowners' insurance premiums will increase on average by about 15% by mid-2026, state leaders said last week.
‘Duke Respect Durham:’ University Urged to Further Contribute, Partner With City
As the second-largest employer in North Carolina with a $11.6 billion endowment and over $4 billion in properties, Duke University owns 11 percent of the land in Durham County, But for many Durham residents, Duke’s financial contributions to the city have failed to keep pace with the university’s massive profits.
Trump Makes More Debunked Claims About FEMA as He Surveys Storm Damage in North Carolina
Surveying storm damage in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump on Monday blasted federal emergency responders whose work has been stymied by armed harassment and a deluge of misinformation.
›