Despite a devastating fire that ripped through her home and left her with nothing, Greenport resident Peggy Richards always held onto her positive spirit — until today, when she found the lifeless bodies of one of her missing dogs and cats, still in the living room.
“I had hope, until now. Until now, it was just ‘stuff that I lost,” said Richards, heartbroken.
Richards said that the pets she found today are likely Joyce, a border collie, and Bella, a black calico.
“I have now given up hope and believe them all to be dead,” she said. The loyal dogs, Richards said, “must have gone back in to save us.”
MacAlpin said he let the dogs out on the night of the fire and left the door open for the cats to get out.
Richards and her partner Ken MacAlpin, as well as a tenant in the home, Victor Colon, Jr., were left homeless after the fire last month.
Missing since then have been the couple’s pets: Joyce, Bangor, a pitbull-border collie mix, Bella, Roxy, a red tabby, Tripod, a white cat with striped areas and a birth defect that makes it difficult to walk.
Richards said Victor Colon, Jr., a tenant in the house, had been helping to search for the pets.
Joyce was very close to MacAlpin, who is overcome today with grief after his great loss. “She lets me know when my blood sugar goes low and when my post-traumatic stress syndrome is acting up,” he said after the fire.
MacAlpin was so distraught over his missing dogs that he wanted to forego treatment at the hospital, Richards said. “I have to find my dogs,” he said.
Meanwhile, a community had come together to help the fire victims. Their greatest need remains temporary housing, Richards said Saturday.
Those wishing to donate clothes and other personal items can drop the off at Village Hall on Third Street, while monetary donations will be accepted at Community Action of Southold Town.
Colon, Jr. has family in the area but MacAlpin and Richards have nowhere but the church where they have found respite.
The past years have not been easy for Richards, who has faced serious health concerns, and MacAlpin, who has PTSD and cancer. Financial issues have been a concern and now, they couple is left with nothing; Richards does not even have her laptop, which she needs to work.
Their home, Richards said, meant everything to her. She bought the house in 2000, at the age of 46, because she said she was tired of renting. “I swore I would never leave,” she said.
To donate:
Monetary donations are being accepted at C.A.S.T., located at 311 Front Street, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Those donations can be made in cash, or in a check payable to C.A.S.T. Please write “Greenport Fire” in the memo section.
Donations can also be made on C.A.S.T.’s website, www.castsoutholdtown.org. Click on the “Greenport Fire” tab and then click the “donate” button on that page.
Clothing and other necessities are being accepted at Village Hall, located at 236 3rd Street, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
(Pictured in insert: Bella).
