A pet shop that was gutted by a serious fire that killed several animals has reopened.
Fire broke out inside Cuddles and Bubbles in Sheerness Broadway in May last year and six fire crews spent four hours tackling the blaze, which started in a faulty electrical appliance. At the height of the inferno, firefighters were giving rescued animals oxygen in an attempt to revive them.
Sadly some died in the blaze, including Toby, an African Grey parrot, but owner Alec Smith told Kent Live: “Thankfully, we saved more than we lost”.
The inside of the building, which was completely devastated by the fire, has had to be rebuilt over the past 16 months – while Cuddles and Bubbles has continued to trade out of another shop opposite.
Alec said: “The shop was completely gutted – it was down to the bare walls. We’ve had to have all the walls, floors, ceilings and joists re-done…
“We’ve got a lot of new lines in and the whole concept of the shop has changed – we’ve got a brand new layout.”
Alec, who has been trading in Sheerness for 22 years, thanked everyone who helped him rebuild.
