As the West Seattle Herald first reported, a fire broke out at the house of Teri Ensley Monday morning due to a the fire, accidentally caused by a hot plate that was left on and ignited consumables on the kitchen counter. Total estimated damages are $70,000. But that is just monetary. For Ensley, a pet activist who operates Furry Faces Foundation to aid pets and their owners, the loss became very personal and tragic. Pouncer died, her 16-year-old cat who showed up on her doorstep 15 years ago.

Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation, or AARF:

Burien-based Animal Aid and Rescue Foundation, or AARF, is helping Ensley and Furry Faces. It's president, Heather Johnson Enajibi, wanted to share Ensley's critical role in the animal community with the West Seattle Herald's readers:

"Teri is a local hero because she comes to everyone's aid, and to their pets' aid when they need help. Furry Faces Foundation raises money for low income people to pay for emergency vet bills. She will drop off food at low income people's homes so they can keep their pets at their homes. She passes out spay and neuter certificates. She's always there, both as the Furry Faces director, and also just as the local, humanitarian, 'pet-i-tarian'. She does what needs to be done.

"We partnered on saving a puppy with parvo (virus) a couple of weeks ago. She is a tireless volunteer for AARF as well."

Enajibi recalled first hearing about the fire.

"I was dog-sitting just down the street and looking through Facebook and saw a house fire mentioned and the address and what went through my mind first was to text the woman I was dog-sitting to say it wasn't her house. Then I learned that it was Teri's house. I jumped in my car and went over and the devastation on her face, it just broke my heart. She'd just found out that her beloved Pouncer died. She was blaming herself. She's hard on herself even though it was an accident.

"Teri's going to need help for a while. All the donations that she spreads out through the neighborhood are lost. And in winter they need it the most. Her clothing is smoke and water damaged. She does have some insurance but still needs help."

LIST OF ITEMS

AARF's Sara Riehl aso contacted the West Seattle Herald late today, Tuesday, with a list of items to help Teri Ensley and the pets she cares for. They can be dropped off at:

Muttley Crew Cuts (4200 SW Admiral Way)
Kitty Harbor (3422 Harbor Avenue SW)
Beveridge Place Pub (6413 California SW)

Sara Riehl: "We have had a great out pour of support from the residents of West Seattle. Thank you so much for supporting our dear neighbor Teri Ensley. As many of you know she has lost many irreplaceable items in this fire, however as a community we can come together and get her the things we can replace."

Riehl has established a Facebook page to help in the effort.

More Immediate needs:

­ Beds for cats or dogs
­ Dog igloos
­ Heating pads for outside, the cats will be in an outdoor cat enclosure and with cold weather we want to keep them warm
­ Power extension cord for the heating pads
­ Larger sheets of linoleum to retrofit the enclosed patio for some of her cats to stay in.
­ Cat collars
­ Jeans/Pants for Teri, size 8. She normally wears Gloria Vanderbult jeans from Costco; Regular Length, Size 8.
­ Teri got an amazing donation of flip flops, her favorite, but if you had any boots or rain boots size 7 ½ or 8
­ Laundry Detergent (HE Only) High Efficient
­ (Sara is putting this on the list for Teri)☺ relaxing/calming bubble bath or bath oils
­ Organizational Supplies, Plastic Tubs, File folders with box to hold them, Pens, Notebooks (she needs to organize the supplies she is getting and also needs to sort through all of the paperwork that was not destroyed in her house) Any additional organizational supplies you can think of would be greatly appreciated.
­
Wet Cat Food- Turkey, Chicken, or Beef
By Nature, Natures Variety, Nutra Source, Taste of the Wild, Wellness

Rebuilding what was lost in the Fire:
­ Cat Collars (new and used)
­ Dog Collars (new and used)
­ Leashes
­ Cat Toys (new and used)
­ Scratching Posts
­ Cat Trees
­ Cat Beds
­ Litter boxes
­ Canned cat food
­ Dry cat food
­ Kitten food

Also: Costco paper food dishes, the rectangular ones you get with a hotdog. Teri uses those to feed the cats on, and water dishes, too.