Rescuer's Home Gutted In Blaze, Firefighters Save 36 Animals

MANORVILLE, NY — A woman who has devoted her life to saving wildlife saw her home gutted by fire last month — and now, needs help to rebuild after a blaze that left her and her family, as well as 36 animals, homeless.

The fire that upended her world began on May 16 at 1:30 a.m. at her Manorville home, Carly Sallee, who works at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Center in Hampton Bays, said.

Describing that terrifying night, she said: "My husband smelled smoke, and then he, my son and I saw that the garage was on fire. We grabbed our two dogs and ran out of the house in our pjs and barefoot — not having any time to try to save the 36 animals that were inside."

Sallee said they called the fire department and "waited for them to come while watching our house go up in flames. I was scared to death thinking all my babies were inside!"

Thankfully, Sallee said, her old friend Bob Baylis, a Manorville fireman was on the scene and knew that she was a rehabber with many animals inside.

"The firemen were unbelievable, asking me what kind of animals were there and how many. They immediately brought in commercial fans and were able to keep the smoke in the basement at bay while carrying incubators that were upstairs safely out of the house. One fireman even had a blind squirrel in a cat carrier that he was able to grab. There were cats, ferrets, flying squirrels, eastern gray squirrels, rabbits, mice, rats, hamsters and raccoons. Thankfully, all of the animals lived."

Sallee began volunteering at the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Center in 2013, taking the overflow of orphaned neonatal mammals. "My heart has always been with orphaned babies and I have cared for them in my home for over 35 years," she said.

Sallee and her family lived at their Manorville home for 15 years before the blaze.

"My basement was its own wildlife sanctuary where I was able to care for my neonatal babies," she said.

Now, however, her home has been condemned. She is no longer able to keep her animals there — and most have been taken in by staff members at the wildlife center, or are actually staying at the rescue.

All, however, except the cats that she trapped, neutered and was unable to release back at a location in Riverhead because of the fear that they may be poisoned, Sallee said.

"They are now living outside with the covered porch as their shelter. I also have some blind cats that I adopted from the Brookhaven animal shelter years ago around Christmastime,to give them a better home than the small cage they were condemned to — but, now, unfortunately they are living in an outside run that was built to rehabilitate raccoons."

Except for the cats that are outside, all the other animals are in homes or at the rescue. She and her husband go to their fire-damaged home three times a day to ensure that the outdoor animals that remain are fed, have fresh water, and are treated for fleas and ticks, "and are just loved," she said. "I'm heartbroken that I can't be there for them but they are well taken care of."

Sallee, who traveled to Niagara Falls in 2014 to take a class so that she could later obtain her rabies vector species license, was outraged when a Brookhaven Town animal control officer contacted her about a complaint regarding "abandoned animals" at their home.

"I was scared and horrified!" she said. How could someone think I was neglecting them? Every one of my neighbors knows me and knows I’m there every day. They know I have dedicated my life to saving animals. I would never ever abandoned any animal. I just wish the person who put the complaint in would’ve taken the time to ask my neighbors. I’ve been around; it would’ve saved a lot of pain and heartache. Fortunately the officer who came to the house knew that everything was being taken care of and the case was dropped immediately."

There are other hurdles to overcome, including the fact that it may take up to a year for her home to once again be livable, Sallee said. To that end, her colleagues at the rescue started a GoFundMe page, "Help Carly And Her Family After A Devastating Fire."

"Our beautiful friend, mentor and co-worker, Carly, who has dedicated her life to saving all creatures great and small, wild and domestic, lost the home her family worked so hard to build," the page said. "From the memories with her children and grandchildren to the custom nursery rooms for wildlife babies to the amazing cattery for neglected, often sick kitties that she and her husband designed and created with their own funds, the house will be sorely missed, but, by the grace of God and the family’s quick action, not one person or animal was hurt."

Carly works, not only at home with her animals, but also at the non-profit Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Rescue Center, saving sick, injured and orphaned wildlife day and night, the page said.

"Please help us support this amazing woman who speaks always for those without a voice during this difficult time. Right now, the family has lost their vehicles and the immediate need is for a car which we have just learned will not be covered by insurance.Carly will continue her life mission for these animals — her first thought just after this devastating fire — and, this time she needs our help."

To donate, click here.

"People have said I have given my whole life but isn’t that what life is about?" Sallee asked. "There are so many people out there that give every day and I am blessed to know you. Those that have taken my animals into their homes, your generous gifts, love and support. And a special thank you to my daughters and families who have welcomed us into their homes because we had nowhere to go."

Sallee also thanked her daughter Heather who took on the responsibility of rebuilding their live, talking to the insurance company, meeting people at our home, handling "endless phone calls and paperwork, not once complaining but embracing the task with all her heart. I can never ever tell you how much I love you and how proud I am to have you as a daughter."

To the community, she said: "You all hold a special place in my heart."

She added: "All my neighbors, all my friends, and people that I don’t even know have reached out and for that I am so thankful. There really are a lot of great people in this world."