Emergency workers treat animals following a deadly night car accident at BVSPCA’s New Caste shelter. Because of the damage to the building, 98 animals are displaced and a call for adoptions — including at the West Chester location, was issued.
NEW CASTLE, DE — A deadly car crash that took the life of a Delaware woman overnight did massive damage to a regional animal shelter, displacing nearly 100 cats and dogs to other shelters including West Chester, urgently sparking a need for adoption of those animals.
Laytoya Cooper, 33, apparently lost control of her car around midnight Saturday, and crashed into the South Street shelter’s veterinary clinic, according to police.
Police said Cooper died at the scene as a fire almost immediately broke out at the scene.
First responders contained the fire, and emergency personnel, BVSPCA staff, and neighbors worked quickly to move 100 animals to safety.
Two cats needed emergency veterinary care; one died from its injuries, and the other is being treated for burns and smoke inhalation. Two other cats lost their lives in the fire. The other animals have been relocated to temporary housing and are being examined by medical personnel. A total of 98 animals were moved to other locations, 36 cats and 62 dogs.
“We’re heartbroken to have lost these lives tonight,” said Adam Lamb, BVSPCA Chief Executive Officer. “It could have been even worse if not for the amazing work of the first responders and all the neighbors who worked together to get the animals out safely.”
The car crash caused significant damage to the veterinary clinic portion of the building. The shelter portion of the building sustained water and smoke damage. The facility will be closed for an undetermined period of time, pending a building inspection and possible subsequent cleanup and repairs.
The BVSPCA needs the community’s help during this crisis. Anyone who has been thinking of adopting should visit one of the other BVSPCA adoption locations: the Georgetown, DE, Campus; the PetSmart Everyday Adoption Center in Dover, DE; or the West Chester, PA. Campus, Sunday hours are 10am to 5pm.
Financial donations are also needed to help with the additional cost to care for the animals and the damage to the building.
Adoptable animals: www.bvspca.org/adopt
Donations: https://fundly.com/bvspca-new-castle-campus-fire
