Family dogs who died in Inverness house fire 'can never be replaced'
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A couple have spoken of their devastation after a fire ripped through their home in under 15 minutes, killing two family dogs and destroying all their possessions.
Amanda and Keith Goodbrand had left their house in Hilton Avenue to visit their daughter at Raigmore Hospital, with neighbours calling the fire and rescue services at 7.42pm last Wednesday.
Mrs Goodbrand (61) said it was tough dealing with the pain that has been caused by the loss of chihuahuas Alfie and Lottie, and their live’s possessions.
Speaking about the ordeal, Mrs Goodbrand said: “I’m just numb and going through the motion of life and just kind of holding on really. We’ve lost everything.
“I can’t look at the house now. We are all absolutely devastated by the loss of the dogs. They were my daughter’s babies and members of our family. They can never be replaced.”
It is thought the source of the blaze was a fridge freezer.
The couple only left the house 13 minutes before the fire started.
Mrs Goodbrand suffered a mini-stroke over the weekend after the shock of everything, and has said that it has been the worst week of her life.
She spent 39 years in the house, before the blaze took hold of the home. The Goodbrands have been staying at their daughter’s house, but will be moving into a hotel today, while they try to find a long-term rental.
“I can’t get over that it took such a short time for it to all be destroyed,” Mrs Goodbrand said.
“We could have died with smoke inhalation if we had been there as we wouldn’t have been able to get the doors open.”
The Goodbrands’ daughters have set up a Go Fund Me page to raise funds for the couple to buy new possessions, and to help with the repairs of sentimental items damaged by smoke damage. The response has been ‘phenomenal’ said Mrs Goodbrand, with just under £5000 being raised.
“The response has been amazing – the amount of people offering to help is unreal,” she added.
“We’ve been blown away by the generosity. My work have also been so good, as myself, Keith and my daughter work at Costa Coffee. They keep checking on us and seeing what they can do.”
If anyone can support The Goodbrands with a long-term rental in Inverness, visit their GoFundMe page.
