Surrey-based animal rescue re-opens after devastating fire

After a catastrophic electrical fire killed dozens of exotic animals almost two years ago at a shelter in Surrey, it is now up and running again with plenty of tortoises, lizards, tarantulas, snakes, and more living out a better life in a newly improved space.

Vice president of Urban Safari Rescue Society Pamala-Rose Combs says it took a long time to reopen, but volunteers and donations helped get the beloved shelter open again.

“All of the animals here have their own recovery stories, and if it wasn’t for the community coming forth and spilling out of the woodwork to help us, we wouldn’t be here right now,” she said.

“The number of people that have shown up just to do an afternoon’s worth of work, little kids that are showing up to drop their birthday money as a donation, you know, here’s $50 from this kid who’s heard about us. To the woman who walked in and dropped 1,000 dollars online. To the people who showed up and helped build all this,” she added.

Combs says it wasn’t the damaging flames, but instead mostly the smoke that led to animals dying and extensive damage at the old building.

She says there were delays because of city processes which also led to getting more work done. But now, visitors can enjoy the slow roll of giant tortoises as they live out their lives, big lizards hanging out under the heat lamps, or Charlie the friendly boa python.

“If you’re going to own one of these animals, you need to put in the investment. And that’s time that a lot of people don’t want to do.”

Combs says around 60 animals died in the January 2023 fire. The news was devastating for the community connected to this place where animals have touched many lives in different ways.

An animal enthusiast Gary Oliver came up with the idea for the shelter and believes educating people will make a difference in the animals’ lives in captivity and the wild.

“I came from a middle-class family that didn’t have money for me to travel to go and see jungles and Africa and all that. I did it all through corresponding with other people who like animals like I do. Anything to do with animals, I was there. I just love working with animals.

“I get more gratification out of it. I’m very proud of this place,” Oliver told The Leader Spirit.