26/07/2026
It’s hard to find the words.
Just before midnight, we were woken by our neighbour banging on the door, telling us our van was on fire. Thankfully, the fire was spotted and brought under control quickly, but by then the damage had already been done.
This morning, seeing the reality has been absolutely heartbreaking. The front of the van is completely burnt out, and everything else has been left with extensive smoke damage.
Inside was so much more than just a van. Our trolleys, equipment, and so much of what we use every day have been destroyed. Arlo’s show suits, his show trolley, his show cover, and so many of his dog show essentials have all been ruined. Years of hard work and memories have been affected in a matter of minutes.
As devastating as it is, we’re holding on to what matters most. We weren’t in the van, and neither were the dogs. For that, we are incredibly thankful, because things could have been so much worse.
Now the reality is setting in, and we’re faced with the difficult task of rebuilding everything we’ve lost. It won’t happen overnight, but we’ll take it one step at a time.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out, checked in on us, and offered support. Your kindness means more than you’ll ever know. 🧡
https://gofund.me/1cd848a51
Firstly, I just want to say a huge thank you to Rachel for taking the time to set this up. Your kindness and support mean more than you know. ❤️
We also want to thank every single person who has donated, shared, or sent us kind messages. We are truly overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity during such a difficult time.
While we do have insurance, it could take weeks or even months before everything is sorted. At this stage, we don’t know exactly what will be covered. It may only be the van itself, and we won’t know whether the contents will be covered until the claim has been fully assessed.
Your support is helping us through an incredibly difficult time, and we can’t thank you all enough. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. ❤️
