Have just heard the terrible news of this fire. That helpless dogs should suffer in this way .
So so sad.

Whatever is wrong with these people?  I don't know Manchester Dogs Home but I am surprised there wasn't any security.

Such horrific news, I feel physically sick and in tears. The Manchester Evening News has a donation page for those who wish to help. RIP to all the beautiful souls that have passed away and healing thoughts to those still fighting for their lives.

Sorry. I didn't notice the earlier thread. Unimaginable horror.
Poor innocent dogs. What is wrong with people ?
Not as tragic by any means but someone set fire to a children's playground in Eastbourne the other night. I loved watching my granddaughter play there. This just a few weeks since the pier fire.
I repeat, what is wrong with people ?

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/12/manchester-dogs-home-fire-blame-adults

What a well written piece this is !!
Aileen

Yes that was good. I'd also wonder about the parents of this boy. What have they taught him, or failed to? I have a son aged 14, and he lives for dogs. He comes with us to shows, he handles, he goes to training classes with us, he helps a LOT with the everyday care. He values each and every one and I know there is no way he would ever even think the thought of hurting any dog, no matter how angry, upset or disappointed he got. He sometimes gets picked on at school for his dog interest, in particular since he loves our Papillons just as much as the Malinois and a Papillon isn't a very macho dog! But he doesn't let it get to him. And this is the way he has been brought up!

The point is...'lets pass the buck'. No matter who is involved with this boy, they will all pass the buck. Its the teacher's fault, education/social services fault, society's faults and the list is endless. Breeders vet potential puppy owners to an inch of their life, drivers are tested mentally, physically and a lot more and yet to qualify as a parent, all you need to do is lie on your back! Maybe the parents should have been neutered. This boy should be locked in a cage, surrounded by heaters and pictures of the poor dogs in the state he had left them. Maybe then he'll understand...that is if he inhertited a brain.

>What a well written piece this is !!

Agreed.    It's about time someone in the media pointed this out.    Too many people think dog rescue is a good thing and don't see the whole picture.

I hope we can between us reserve some of our rage, despair and horror for the countless individuals, not just in Manchester but on our own doorsteps, wherever that may be, who breed or buy dogs with ignorance, irresponsibility and inadequate commitment, then abandon them when the novelty or need is gone

Isn't this just the message we have been trying to get out on the internet for the last decade and a half at least ?

Anyone who  thinks there is a demand for 'designer'  dogs,  or Backyard Bred pups or commercially bred pups should spend some time working at one of these places and see just where that 'demand'  leads.

Poor dogs ending their lives in a burning building, it's an unbelieveable horror.   I've been  hugging mine close all day.

But spare a thought for the ones who will carry on living in crowded kennels,  victims of a demand for easily available,  easily disposable dogs by feckless,  heartless owners:-(

Arsonists very often end up in secure psychiatric units, at that lads age I think thats the most likely outcome for him.
.

This is a horrific of course but I just assumed that there would have been fire sprinklers in case of any fire.  Though to be honest I had never thought about it.  Most of us I imagine go about life assuming things and leaving it to others.

I just assumed that there would have been fire sprinklers in case of any fire

Unless they are put in during building I think, usually, the cost of fitting sprinklers is astronomical, especially in an oldish building, which this was.

I am horrified and upset by this tragedy. However I am finding it horrific that the photo of the boy responsible is being circulated on facebook and there are hundreds of appalling comments being made about what people would like to do to him. No matter how awful the crime. Nothing will bring those poor dogs back and I see no point in the witch hunt against the perpetrator. Or am I wrong?

Sprinkler systems are way to expensive to put into old buildings  even if they had been there they would only have put out the fire IF the fire had been inside the building. In a past life I have experience of an arsonist fire & the sprinklers in the building had no chance of putting the fire out as an incendiary source had been used in such a way that the building burnt from the outside in, Fortunately the building was unoccupied by animals at the time :-( 

They will be able to rebuild to the highest standards as I understand builders have offered professional services for free. It won't bring those poor dogs back, but will at least be a fitting tribute to their lives.

I understand however that MDH rehomes with only proof of identity & address(along with several other DH)no homechecks :-( they have quite a lot of bounce backs. One hopes that this will change & volunteer homecheckers are used in the future.

As to the child that caused the fire, no doubt it will be revealed that he had an abusive home life, was bullied or similar & will receive as gentle wrist slap & the provision of continuing social support from the authorities. I do hope that at least he is banned from ever owning, being involved with or allowed in the vicinity of animals for life

Smithy I'm with you, I've been disturbed by some of the comments I've read. He needs to be brought to justice for his actions, but violence begets violence.

Besides, any publicity could compromise a prosecution against him.

>no doubt it will be revealed that he had an abusive home life

So did I.  But I don't think that should be accepted as an excuse.

From what I've read online he did it in revenge for a dog attacking him earlier this year.

I suppose we should be grateful he didnt get told off by a teacher causing him to burn down a school full of children!. That is just not an acceptable reason for his actions. I hope he gets punished  with the maximum sentences allowed and also gets psychiatric help.

At least the children wouldn't have been locked up with no escape.  They would also have had fire drill lessons and a teacher to supervise let alone water sprinklers.

From what I've read online he did it in revenge for a dog attacking him earlier this year.

Humph! :-(

Well......... in that case then.... he will no doubt get off and be sent on a holiday to Florida or the Bahamas to make him a better person, the law sucks, due to all these stupid do gooders, who do no do gooding....watch this space..........

RIP - all of those poor dogs and it is just wonderful how much support is being given to re-build the rescue and help the homeless dogs there.  When all is said and done we are a country of animal lovers which also goes towards all the 'I want even though I can't look after' majority, misplaced love, but so pleased we all rally at a time like this.

Just to add apparently there are different pictures being circulated on fb all supposed to be this one boy. Also supposedly his name. There are one or two requests at least one from MDH explaining how this kind of information can jeopardise a trial in the future and could end up with the correct person not getting a proper trial and being let off. That's the last thing we want so I feel we must take care that this doesn't happen.
Hethspaw I hope you are right about him being locked up , a child that can do this deliberately ,assuming it was intentional ,is a danger to all life. We must also remember that his parents may be as devastated as we are and try not to judge when we don't know the full story yet

If he is guilty I like many others would at the very least want him locked up for life and throw away the key

He has been bailed to a secret location along with his family for his protection <------ not saying anything

yes I read that, he damn well needs to be before someone gets into real bother for what they may do to him

I was actually sickened to read some of the comments from people on the fb page set up to offer help. The arson attack was horrendous and beyond comprehension - but if the youth responsible had been brought up around people who hold the same views as some of the posters then it's not surprising that he held the lives of so many dogs with no regard at all. In his twisted view he was exacting revenge for an action he disagreed with- but where did he get that view from?

To see adults calling for him to be beaten/tortured/burned/b******d/strung up with barbed wire etc turns my stomach just as much as the senseless act which caused the tragic loss of life in the fire. If the youth's reason for his actions was revenge for being attacked by a dog then those people baying for his blood and wishing to extract the most terrible revenge on him are no better than he is and are perpetuating the belief that a lot of people would seem to hold that revenge at any price is acceptable.

How can they not see that their reasoning is the same as the youth's? How can they not see that violence and retribution is self perpetuating? How can they not see that they are wishing to follow the same corrupt view as the arsonist himself ?

I am in no way condoning this despicable act - I am appalled by it - but I am also appalled by the comments, beliefs and actions of those who wish to mete out the same revenge on the perpetrator  and think it morally acceptable because their "revenge" is different.

Good post, Harley.

Totally agree Harley

well put harley

Brilliant post Harley, really well put.