From Facebook:

I’M BACK! It’s been two weeks since the fire at my breeding facility we’re moving forward, assessing the losses, replacing what can be replaced and learning how to accept the loss of what can’t. These two weeks have been among the most difficult in my life. Animals that I’ve hatched, raised and worked with for years are gone now, b...abies that hatched this season and some animals that I consider pets perished in the fire. Most long term projects are intact but some key animals are gone. We’ve lost quite a bit of equipment and ultimately the building itself. On the positive side we’ve still got many animals and for the rest, everything is replaceable.

I live in tornado country. Countless times I’ve seen a guy on the evening news telling the reporter how lucky he is as he stands in the place where his house used to be. I never quite understood how somebody could say something like that. Today, I can look at my situation and be thankful that there was no loss of human life and that my business is still viable. In that sense, I am lucky. Could it have been worse? Yes! I am lucky. I’m also lucky, extremely fortunate really, to have so many good friends. Even before the sun came up the day of the fire my friends appeared on the scene. People were everywhere moving animals, shoveling, sweeping, cleaning and scrubbing. People came with supplies, people brought cold drinks and food for the other workers. It was hot, dirty, sweaty work. My friends worked all day and into the night. They came in the days that followed. They called to check on me and ask if there was anything else they could do. They offered to travel from across the country to help. I have many friends and they are good friends!

And then there is my family. Tireless workers. My children, their faces black with soot scrubbing that cage that just won’t get clean and my wife carrying that thing that’s a little too heavy for her. My mother, 80 years old next month, washing racks and bringing food and drinks to the rest. They organized pick up of dead animals, shopped for computers and office equipment, arranged for debris pick up, security and more. I AM LUCKY!

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