Staff of Pet Country on Kingston Road have been in tears for days after animals at the store died during a fire which burnt out the neighbouring fruit and vegetable shop.
Pet Country was near-destroyed in the fire, however staff were able to save some of the animals – some frogs and other small animals.
However, all the birds in the shop were killed in the fire.
“There were plenty of tears for the first few days,” staff said of the fire which went through the building last week.
“But we’re moving on.”
There was a fire sale at the store at the weekend, with fire damaged goods being sold at half price.
The store will relocate into the alleyway next door, offering up an opportunity to start new.
The owner of the shop said at the weekend that he had two full-time staff in the store, some part-time staff and a number of volunteers.
Staff volunteered their time for the weekend’s fire sale which was flush with guests picking up bargains and helping the store get back in its feet.
Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Police and emergency services were called to the Slacks Creek shopping strip Wednesday night to find the building well alight shortly after 9 pm.
Nobody was injured.
Police are urging anyone who was in that vicinity at around 9pm or who has information relating to this fire to come forward.
