More than a 100 animals perish in Bronx pet shop fire

BY DORIAN BLOCK AND LEO STANDORA
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Thursday, November 20th 2008, 8:52 AM

More than 100 frantic birds, reptiles and small animals died trapped in their cages Wednesday when fire raged through a Bronx pet shop.

The blazing end to Stephanie and Amanda's Pet Center on Southern Blvd., a favorite attraction for kids in their Morrisania neighborhood, sent its owner home in tears when he realized almost all was lost.

"He couldn't take it. He just couldn't stay and watch what was happening," said 52-year-old Joel Rivera, who manages the shop for his cousin, David Rivera.

"He's been here 30 years and all of a sudden, it's all gone. His business, the animals, all gone. Maybe we can start all over again," he said, wiping away tears with the back of his hand.

A dry cleaner and a photo shop next to the pet shop also burned down, and a nearby five-story apartment building was evacuated but sustained only minor damage. No one in the buildings was injured.

Rivera said many of the 140 firefighters summoned to the three-alarm blaze risked their lives to save as many of the doomed creatures - parrots, parakeets, rabbits, guinea pigs, lizards and other reptiles, at least two cats and a pair of guard dogs - as they could.

"I got the lizards and they got two of our three macaws," which were worth $2,000 each, he said. "They tried to get other animals out, but they couldn't. There were too many cages, maybe 50 to 60, and too much fire."

"I'll miss them, all of them," Rivera said. "I used to play with the parrots. I'd put them on my shoulder. I was with them all the time. And the rabbits, all the kids around here loved them. They used to come in and take their pictures."

Fire officials said the blaze erupted in Urrego Alba Cleaners at 1105 Southern Blvd. about 4:15 p.m. and quickly spread to the other buildings. The cause was under investigation.

During the height of the fire, which wasn't brought under control until about 7 p.m., several blocks of Southern Blvd. were cordoned off in both directions. Service on the elevated No. 2 and 5 subway lines was suspended between E. 149th and E. 180th Sts. Transit officials said thick smoke billowing from the buildings was near the tracks and creating an unsafe situation.

dblock@nydailynews.com