Pet shop blaze deliberately set, fire officials say

[Player-X]

Pet shop blaze deliberately set, fire officials say


By Brian R. Ballou, Globe Staff | September 29, 2006
A fire that killed more than two-dozen exotic snakes, frogs, fish, and other reptiles in a Cambridge pet shop Wednesday night was deliberately set, perhaps by the person who spray-painted the message ``No more exploitation of animals" on the store front, fire officials said yesterday.
State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said that investigators were not focusing on any single motive for the blaze, which apparently started on the second floor of the Boston Tropical Fish and Reptiles building on Monsignor O'Brien Highway around 9:45 p.m. and sent animals slithering and scurrying from the flames and heat.
Referring to the note sprayed on the front of the store, Coan said: ``The investigation team is not ruling out the graffiti. We're looking at a number of potential scenarios."
Store owner Dianne San Filippo took offense at the message. ``One of our largest snakes was found melted in his tank," she said, standing outside her gutted store yesterday morning. ``Is that kind of death better than exploitation? I don't think so."
San Filippo said her manager had trouble with several people about two weeks ago. ``He had to tell a couple of people who came in to leave, after they started yelling at him and giving him a hard time about the feeder mice," she said, of the stock of mice the store keeps to feed some of the reptiles. ``I don't know if that has anything to do with the fire, if it's a coincidence."
Authorities said the fire appeared to have started on the second floor of the two-story building. It was put out at 10:33 p.m.
``This case is peculiar, because there is no evidence any animals were freed, which is certainly contradictory to that message," Cambridge Fire Captain Gerry Mahoney said. ``It's cause for alarm, because usually animal rights groups attempt to set the animals free."
Alan B. Borgal, a state humane officer with the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said a portion of the store that was untouched by flames appeared to be cluttered and unsanitary, in violation of state codes.
Borgal said 14 animals, mostly reptiles, and up to 75 fish were carried out of the fire alive. The number of fish that died was unknown; Borgal said those that survived were taken to an emergency hospital set up at a Petco store near the Cambridgeside Galleria. Rainforest Reptiles in Beverly took all the reptiles. The Animal Rescue League of Boston took the rats.

I am just speechless at how stupid people can be

[jonc2006]

well, ive seen much worse recently, id post the direct link, but its so graphic id probably get banned. a friend sent it to me by email hes a big PETA member and some memebers of that group try to gain peoples attention by showing things that would spark people to help join their cause and i literally threw up after watching it, i was so disgusted. if your intrested in what im talking about ill say one word and the rest of the work you will have to do on your own, freakhole.com. look around there and you might find it. some of you may already know what im refering to and im going to guess you will probably agree that it was the worst thing involving animals you have ever seen. unless a moderator or administrator says its ok i will not post the direct link to this video but if you do find it on your own im warning you that you will feel extremely, and i stress that word, disgusted with what some people are capable of.

player x, the thing that pisses me off is that even if they do catch whoever did it, the penalties are so weak in comparasion to the penalties you would get for harming another human. imo people that hurt animals are much worse than people that harm other people. most animals,save a few, cant defend themselves from us as we are quite strong, they also are caught off guard by our intentions, so they never really stand a chance, whereas humans know the capabilities of our race and know that not all people are good, and most of the time we are capable of defending ourselves to some degree, animals really cant fight us that well. it takes a real ******* to pick on an animal.

[mxgmer]

As far as PETA they are a little too extreme in thier methods. I personally have no problem eating meat, fishing or wearing fur (but only to keep warm). I have to add though that to hurt defenseless animals without reason is completely unacceptable and yet all too common from our fellow man I'm afraid.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by mxgmer

As far as PETA they are a little too extreme in thier methods. I personally have no problem eating meat, fishing or wearing fur (but only to keep warm). I have to add though that to hurt defenseless animals without reason is completely unacceptable and yet all too common from our fellow man I'm afraid.

well if you saw this video im talking about i think you would consider joining a group like PETA. the video wasnt made by them, it was only sent to me by a friend who just happened to be a member, but it was seriously disturbing stuff.

[mxgmer]

I pretty much grew up in the woods so anything people do to animals would not really surprise me. Ever been to a piggery or slaughterhouse? Nasty stuff indeed. I have no desire to subject myself to this video because I can only imagine how truly sad it is. I like my meat too much to look!

[The Captain]

Originally Posted by jonc2006

well if you saw this video im talking about i think you would consider joining a group like PETA. the video wasnt made by them, it was only sent to me by a friend who just happened to be a member, but it was seriously disturbing stuff.

Let me guess... the video with the chainsaw? I thought I was going to be sick. I couldn't even watch it.

[Exodus]

Originally Posted by Player-X

I am just speechless at how stupid people can be

You're always posting threads about stupid people and you still get surprised?

[Kaolla]

[Store owner Dianne San Filippo took offense at the message. "One of our largest snakes was found melted in his tank,"]

Errr... melted snake? XD

Watch it ends up being some stupid kid who thought it'd be cool to light a pet store on fire.

[jonc2006]

Originally Posted by The Captain

Let me guess... the video with the chainsaw? I thought I was going to be sick. I couldn't even watch it.

no i dont think so this one involved a kitten a pair of 3 inch high heels and an absolutly insane woman wearing them. you do the math. there were several different ones though so you may be right.

[Player-X]

You're always posting threads about stupid people and you still get surprised?

It's not suprise, it's fustaration about why do these people still know how to breathe.

[Exodus]

Unfortunetly, breathing doesn't need thought.

[jonc2006]

seriously dude after i saw this video i was about to buy a plane ticket and hunt the ***** down i was so pissed at how someone could be so cold.

[mxgmer]

Wow! That's even nastier that I imagined!