A staple in the Lawrence community for nearly 30 years, Pet World, is reopening its doors on Saturday.
Many tears were shed after a fire destroyed the popular pet store last May. An electrical issue set off the fire that killed several small animals, including some who had been boarded there.
Owner Sherry Emerson told 41 Action News in an exclusive sneak peek of the new building that staying closed wasn't an option.
Through fundraisers and hard work, the building is now renovated.
Workers were putting in the final touches Friday morning. The animals were being moved in Friday afternoon.
"We wouldn't have been able to do this without the community," Emerson said.
RELATED | Pet World will rebuild after fire
For the past eight months, the store operated out of a temporary location across the parking lot at the 23rd & Louisiana strip mall.
But the building that everyone knows so well is home.
Pet World isn't just a place to buy a pet; it's a place where adults and kids alike can learn more about animals through workshops and kids camps.
Emerson said she and her husband, Tim, can't wait to see the smiles on all the kids' faces again.
Pet World Reopening 1-23 #LFK Please spread the word. #IfYouRebuildItTheyWillCome pic.twitter.com/jZ6l6Qg1Sg
— Pet World (@PetWorldKansas) January 5, 2016
The fire on May 25, 2015 started when the store's electrical panel malfunctioned. Firefighters said the fire burned hot and fast.
The store didn't have a sprinkler system. Emerson said it's a common practice in the pet and animal industry to not have sprinklers in fear that they would misfire and drown the animals.
She said she educated herself since then. The new store is fitted with an up-to-date, high-tech sprinkler system. Each sprinkler head has a small tube with liquid that must boil before setting off the stream of water. That makes it easier to put out a fire in a concentrated area.
The fire was so devastating because the fire department didn't know about it until most of the building was destroyed. The landline connection that would have alerted fire officials had melted. Now, the store has a new landline, plus two wireless connections that will send a text to officials in case of a fire.
All of these updates, plus the undying community support, is what Emerson said kept Pet World going.
Pet World will reopen on Jan. 23 at 10 a.m.
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Sarah Plake can be reached at sarah.plake@kshb.com.
