Rhode Island Parrot Rescue Suffers Loss of Over 80 Birds, Animals in Devastating Fire

The Southern Rhode Island community is mourning the loss of more than 80 exotic birds and animals after a fire that devastated a local parrot rescue yesterday.

Foster Parrots Ltd. shared photos of the wreckage after firefighters put out the flames at its New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary in Hopkinton, Rhode Island on Thursday. The fire left a third of the organization's building in ruins, and killed between 80 and 100 birds and animals who called the sanctuary home.

"We lost the lives of many of our beloved animals, who each had beautiful and unique personalities, and who were loved dearly by our staff and volunteers," Foster Parrots wrote in a statement on its website.

Despite the loss of so many beautiful animals, firefighters' quick work saved the lives of all of the birds that were housed in the sanctuary's kitchen, and the surviving animals are "safe and stable," according to Foster Parrots.

"We have a long road ahead as we continue to care for our residents and begin rebuilding from the ground up," the organization wrote. "Our entire sanctuary facility will need to be rebuilt."

In the less than 24 hours since Foster Parrot's first post to the public about the fire on its Facebook page, support has poured in to help the organization care for its surviving animals, so much so that the organization said it is no longer in need of supply donations, at least for the moment.

"This may change in the coming days as we get organized and figure out what we need," Foster Parents wrote. "Please keep an eye [on Facebook] and on our website for updates."

The organization is still accepting monetary donations through its website as volunteers and animals work to regain their footing.

Foster Parrots was incorporated in 1999, making it one of the country's first formally-established parrot rescue organizations. Eight years later, Foster Parrots opened the New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary in Hope Valley.