Help Kayla and Dexter Start Over

Have you ever wondered what you would do, or how you would react, when you learned everything you love could potentially be gone...forever?  Sadly, Kayla knows this feeling all too well.  It is a moment she will never forget and a feeling that even time won't erase.

On Wednesday, January 9th, Kayla was thousands of miles away while Dexter, her beloved cat, was under the care of his aunt Jamie.  Dexter hated when Kayla traveled but he loved Jamie's frequent visits as they helped to pass the time.   At 3:15pm, Hastings Fire received multiple calls regarding heavy smoke coming from Kayla's apartment complex.  Upon arrival, they found the apartment across from Kayla's engulfed in flames with thick, black, smoke quickly filling the other units. 

Hastings police quickly entered the building and evacuated the other units.   In the evacuation, a resident reported hearing what they believed was a small child crying.  Later, those cries were identified as Dexter's painful pleas for help as his home and lungs were quickly filling with smoke.  

Thankfully, someone remembered Kayla had a cat and alerted the fire department in hopes he could be rescued.  The firefighters quickly searched her apartment and through the soot and smoke, found Dexter unresponsive.  Though spared from the fire, his tiny lungs had filled with soot and his body had all but given up.

Dexter had many angels watching over him that day.  Hastings Fire had only recently received the specialized pet mask, donated by the Invisible Fence Twin Cities Project Breathe program.  This mask is designed to provide oxygen to pets.  Without that mask, Dexter may have died.  After a few minutes on oxygen (see photo above), he became alert and was quickly rushed to the nearest vet by Kayla's landlord, who also paid for his care.   While there, he was visited by his aunt Jamie, Kayla's landlord and even the members of Hastings Fire who saved him.  It truly takes a village and Kayla is so grateful for all the love and support she and Dexter have received.

Now the tough part, rebuilding and starting over.

The extensive damage to Kayla's apartment building has left her without a home while she waits for her landlord to rebuild.  Fortunately, she and Dexter can stay with her sister for the short term, but the rebuilding could take many months.  Also, due to the extensive smoke damage, Kayla and Dexter lost almost everything they owned.   Clothes, furniture, cat toys, cat beds, everything is gone.  Kayla did not have renter's insurance which means even though the fire was not her fault, she must bear the fiscal responsibility to start over.  This is something very few could afford to face. 

Please consider helping Kayla and Dexter in their journey to begin again.   Any amount you can donate would help them find a brighter future.  If you cannot donate, please consider helping them this weekend 1/19 - 1/20 as they must remove any remaining furniture from her apartment and could use additional hands. 

If you would like to reach Kayla for specific items she may need, please feel free to email her at: [email redacted]

Kayla would like everyone to know she is eternally grateful to each of you for your consideration and for your support.  Any money raised over and above what she needs to rebuild will be used to purchase pet oxygen masks for other local fire departments, in honor of Dexter. 

If you would like more information about Invisible Fence Project Breathe, please click here:  https://www.invisiblefence.com/why-invisible-fence/project-breathe