Dr Steph & Ryan Rebuild Fund

Dr. Stephanie Sheen, Veterinarian at Animal Care Center of Bountiful & Salt Lake City, and husband Ryan Luke were residents of a house in West Valley City, UT, that caught fire [by a suspected murderer and arsonist] during a devastating crime that left one West Valley City employee dead on August 9, 2018. 

According to police via KSL News, "A 64-year-old man [later identified as suspect, Kevin Wayne Billings, Steph & Ryan's next-door neighbor]  was arrested after an unarmed code enforcement officer was fatally shot and a car and West Valley home were set on fire Thursday morning, police said." 

The house mentioned was the house (and HOME) of our dear Dr. Steph and her husband Ryan and their six* fur babies.  




We, her ACC Family,  send our thoughts and our hearts to the family of the West Valley City Code Enforcement Officer who lost her life yesterday. There are no words to describe the senselessness of what reports are saying occurred. Yet, we also are incredibly grateful that both Dr. Steph and her husband survived the fire alledgedly set by this “neighbor” who took this woman’s life. While we are exceedingly grateful for their safety, we are sad to announce that ALL SIX* of their sweet animals perished in the blaze that completely destroyed their house. 




Houses can eventually be rebuilt... "homes" cannot.  They've lost precious family heirlooms, irreplaceable memorabilia, and so much more. New clothing can be purchased. Dishes and furniture and rugs can be bought. As you might imagine would be the case for a veterinarian, these five canine and one feline companions were family to the Sheen-Luke family. It's difficult to try to comprehend a loss of that magnitude.  

We have, many of us, sat stunned, tears flowing. Not knowing where to look, how to help, what to do, who to turn to.




An old yet very wise Eastern proverb reminded us as we helplessly watched news reports of the devastation surrounding our dear friend, colleague, and vet and her dear husband, it reminded us “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness." So, we act. We move. We console. We try to cheer. We buy food for tonight. We text words of hope. We send love. We start GoFundMe. We light one candle. And share the spark...

This may be a very dark time in the lives of Stephanie and Ryan, losing their fur family in one angry fire that also consumed all of their possessions...all within a, horrible act of violence where another family lost a grandmother, mother, sister, daughter, friend, co-worker.

We light another candle.  We share the spark.

If you will light one candle and share this plea for help, if we come together, $5 here, $100 there... $50 today, $1,000 tomorrow, we can unite our candles and become a white-hot star, shining warmth and giving light to these people that have given warmth and light to so many.




Is your fur baby a patient of Dr. Steph's? Has she brought your sweet companion relief? Or given you hope that you will still have more time with your "best friend?" Are you someone in her neighborhood, brightened by her beautiful smile as she drove by? Are you a racing enthusiast, biking next to Ryan? Are you simply a citizen that understands pain, loss, and grief but is willing to light a candle and share the spark that will help two people experiencing a great deal of all three?




Please help us help this couple begin the process of rebuilding their lives. Every dollar raised (sans the GoFundMe fees, which are there to ensure this platform exists) will be withdrawn directly and only by Dr. Steph & Ryan. No other person will have access to it. Every dollar is for them to do with exactly what THEY decide is needed. Maybe that will include a week away to simply be with each other and grieve. It may be for new socks. They may use it for a new bike. Maybe they'll use some to buy a meal tonight or tomorrow or in one week. Perhaps they'll decide that what they need is a burial ceremony for their six* sweet babies. Or maybe they'll use it for a down payment on a new home. The point is that we are asking you to light one (or two, or three) candle(s), share that spark, and do so with the understanding that we are not asking these two friends to explain or even say where they will use this money. WE have the opportunity to be the ones that let them know they are not alone.  They were never alone.

The “Dr. Steph & Ryan Rebuild Fund” is available at any Key Bank branch for those who do not wish to donate online. Yet, in whatever way you choose to light your candle, please consider sharing the spark with your loved ones.  Stephanie and Ryan will never forget how our community came together to give light when it suddenly became very dark, very frightening, and very lonely.

Thank you so much.  

All Our Love,
The Animal Care Center & Utah Dog Park Families

*A BIT OF GOODS AMONG THE IMMENSE TRAGEDY:  We originally thought all eight pets were in the home when the fire tore through the house. We learned today that two of the pets were being fostered by Dr. Steph and Ryan and had been adopted out to new homes mere days before the criminal set the fire. A Yorkie named Rux and an orange and white cat named Milly are alive and living with their new families. While the tragedy of losing 6 fur babies in a house fire that also destroyed all of their possessions is not lessened by this news; it gives us a moment of gratitude (one of so many over the last several days) to know that the two foster animals had been placed with families before the crime. Love and light to you all, Animal Care Center & Utah Dog Park Families(Update: 8/12/2018)

NOTE: 8/14/2018:  Please be sure you check out the updates page of our campaign for Ryan and Dr. Steph.