BENTON - Franklin County Animal Control Supervisor Jarrett Broy could do little more than watch as fire took the lives of many of the animals he was charged to protect, as well as the building that housed them - a building that was years in the making.

"It's just devastating," Broy said as he watched firefighters rip off sheet after sheet of the building's metal roof as they battled the blaze in the predawn hours of Tuesday. "So many dogs and cats dead and the building gone. After all those years we worked to get a new building and now this."

The now-gutted facility was constructed in 2004 with funding provided by private donations gathered over several years.

The facility was insured, Franklin County Board Member David Rea said, and insurance should cover most of the cost of new construction.

"To be honest, we've really outgrown this building already. We're going to rebuild - bigger and better than ever," said Broy, who has worked at the facility for about nine years.

Also lost during the fire were all of the equipment and supplies used at the shelter that strives to be no-kill, with euthanasia an option only when it is more humane for the animal.

The facility runs on donations, which are used for food and litter, to get kittens and puppies their first sets of shots and veterinary visits, to provide money for animals whose medical needs are extensive and a variety of other needs.

As word of the fire spread Tuesday, dozens of calls came in to the Franklin County Sheriff"s Department dispatch center, Broy said, with offers of help or shelter. A $1,000 donation was dropped off at the facility and area real estate agents have offered to find a place to serve as a temporary facility.

Broy said any help would be appreciated and also asked that Franklin County residents exercise patience as the facility gets back up and running.

"For now, we're only going to be able to take dog-bite dogs because we just don't have any place to keep strays or unwanted animals," he said. "We've already had people calling in - and they know about the fire - demanding we come out and get a dog who walked through their yard or remove stray cats before the Thanksgiving holiday. We just can't do it right now and I hope people will understand."

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