the long road home after the 'wellseley fire'

I arrived at the Wellseley Community Center for the first time Saturday afternoon. I knew there was a need for pet food after the 6 alarm fire on September 24 but I didn't know how great the need would be. As soon as I walked through the Center I was overwhelmed by the smell of smoke.  People had left their apartments with the clothes on their back and the smokey smell was pervasive.  Once I reached the Animal Information table and introuduced myself I was given a really warm reception by the City of Toronto staff working there (most were social workers from what I could tell).

People came to the table draped in Red Cross blankets to inquire about pets still in the building.  There wasn't a lot of information available at that time and people were despondent.  No tears, no outrage, no panic - at least not visibly. I delivered the pet food I had brought with me, and as I was unpacking the last few items I looked down to my left and saw an American Eskimo dog.  I was about to ask the owner if the dog needed any food when I realized that the owner was an online friend of mine!  She had come to donate pet food, leashes, carriers, etc.  Finally meeting her made my day, and on a personal note it was nice to share the experience with someone, even briefly.  Trying to explain it after the fact - the smell of smoke, the sight of people wrapped in blankets, the despondence, the overwhelming need - is difficult because I'm not sure I have the words to adequately describe it. After my friend and I parted ways I drove straight back to the Oakville Milton Humane Society because I had delivered the entire pet food bank that day and had nothing left.  Fortunately they had several large bags of dog food so I loaded up the car again and headed home (after a pit stop at the LCBO lol).

That evening I saw a tweet on Twitter that the supply of dog food at the WCC was adequate but there was a desperate need for cat food.  My heart sank because that's the one thing Project Maddie never has enough of.  I bought some from a retailer and called it a day.

Sunday was a beautiful fall day.  I drove to Toronto in light traffic congratulating myself on leaving early enough to beat any gridlock.  What I didn't know about was the marathon that had most of the exits from the Gardiner closed.  After a few detours, with some much needed help from Matt, I arrived at WCC.  Things were a little different there on Sunday.  The first thing I noticed is that security had really tightened up.  Only 'residents', staff and volunteers were allowed access to the building (although people making donations were allowed to bring their donations in).  The second thing I noticed is that there was no smokey smell at all people had somehow managed to change their clothes.  I can't imagine going through the trauma of a fire only to have to sit around in clothing that smelled like the fire that just turned your life upside down.  Maybe this was the very beginning of a new start, the first leg of the long journey "home", wherever that will be. The building wasn't as crowded.  It was a completely different vibe than the day before.

I had made plans to meet Matt after dropping off the food but once I got there I stayed and volunteered at the Animal Information table.  The city employee working there was fantastic and we worked very well together.  Toronto Animal Services had finished a 24 hour shift at 2am Sunday morning - that's how long it took to check all of the units they knew had pets in them.  For simplicity's sake they called it "registering". By 11:30 TAS was back to make another sweep of newly "registered" units. The officer I spoke to said the building was straight out of a horror movie.  Cobwebs with huge spiders in them, cockroaches... he couldn't believe people and pets were living in these conditions.  The social worker I was working with also told me about residents who slept outside rather than on cots in the makeshift shelter because they were afraid of getting bedbugs.  Inspite of having very little to begin with and quite possibly having lost it all to fire, smoke, or water damage, the mood at the 'shelter' was very congenial.  Pet owners inquiring about their pets were reassured to hear that a) their pet was alive (most were) and b) enough food and water had been left for two days.  More food and water was left for them today.  Most of people I met were stoic, gracious, and demonstrated admirable grace in the face of unimaginable loss.

I was fortunate to meet a few people Project Maddie was helping including a very sweet couple and their wonder dog Kelsey (rhymes with Chelsea :) ).  Kelsey is a rescued German Shepherd cross (one of my favourite breed mixes to work with because they're so fecking clever).  She has some of the same phobias Chelsea does.  She also has a strong prey-drive and likes to pull on the leash.  Sitting outside having a smoke with them and talking about simple things they can do to manage these issues was probably one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The boyfriend talked passionately about his years as a volunteer dog walker at Toronto Humane Society.  I couldn't really wrap my mind around them thanking me so profusely for pet food when it's obvious that they do a lot for animals (and probably other people) themselves. 

Last week, before the fire, I received a message from Maddie's 'mom'.  She has another dog and needed some food for him, which I had set aside and planned to drop off today.  Last night she wrote me to say her situation had changed and she wanted to donate to "the fire people".  I was going back to WCC today for another drop off, this time canned food, and was completely overwhelmed by her generosity - four bags of canned cat food and people food - a donation for complete strangers made by someone who often has to do without herself.  Why? Compassion.  Compassion is the basis for every kindness.  Compassion can transform us, if we let it. Compassion can help us transform the lives of others. Sometimes we donate money to a good cause, sometimes we make sure someone gets what he/she needs, sometimes we spend time investing in something or someone other than ourselves, whether through activism or volunteer work, or both.  We'll never regret showing compassion and sharing our gifts to benefit others.  At the risk of sounding cliched it's my experience that the more I do for others the richer I am for having done it.

The people displaced by the 'Wellseley Fire' have a very long road home.  Some will return to their apartments, some won't.  Some will have furniture and clothing but based on what I heard this weekend about smoke and water damage, most won't.  Luckily most will have their pets. If there was ever a time to feel compassion and reach out it's now.  The victims of the fire will still be struggling long after the media and public consciousness move on to something else.