A desperate search for a beloved pet has launched after an Oldham family lost everything in a devastating house fire.
At around 9pm on Sunday, April 10 a fire broke out a home in Bronte Close, Sholver.
Three cats were killed in the fire, one escaped and was rescued, and another called Shadow is currently missing.
Shadow’s owner LisaMarie Hennesy is desperate to be reunited with the eight-year-old black cat after ‘losing everything’ in the fire.
Discussing the blaze, which three fire engines attended, the 49-year-old said: “I feel like I’m living it all the time.
“I had lived there for 18 years and everything I owned was there, even from when I was young. I lost everything.
“Losing your animals is like losing your children. It would mean the world to have Shadow back.”
LisaMarie, who has three children and two biological grandchildren, left a candle burning while she went to the shop which ignited the fire.
She said: “I want to raise awareness and make sure people know to never leave a candle burning even for one minute. It takes just minutes to lose everything.
“If anything comes out of this it is raising awareness and saving anyone from going through this pain.
“I would also tell people to never run into a burning building like I did.”
LisaMarie ran inside the house in a bid to save her animals.
She managed to rescue her spider and snake that are now being looked after by Living World Pets in Oldham.
LisaMarie said: "I love my animals like my babies and Living World Pets have said they will look after my spider and snake for me."
Lisa Marie said it was a miracle that her son Simon, 18, was not at home when the fire broke out.
Another of LisaMarie’s cats Sampson, 16, managed to escape the blaze with singed whiskers and is currently staying at LisaMarie’s daughter’s home.
LisaMarie said: “He’s purring again, as soon as I get all the cat facilities I need I’ll move him in with me.”
She is currently in temporary accommodation in Littlemoor and has been told it could be six months before she can move back into her former home.
Following the fire, she has been flooded with support from her local community.
She said: “Where I live in Sholver the community is fantastic. They have been so wonderful. People have brought me food and clothes and been checking in on me.
“Even Janine the manager of the One Stop in Sholver has been to see me and brought a food parcel.
“Everyone has been looking out for Shadow too. I’m very grateful.”
A GoFundMe page has been launched by Candice Lyons, who rescues cats, to support LisaMarie.
The page reads: “LisaMarie and her son Simon, 18, have just lost everything due to a tragic house fire last Sunday.
“They have just their clothes on their backs. Four of LisaMarie’s cats sadly didn’t make it, amazingly her 16-year-old cat managed to escape.
“I became aware of Lisa’s story after reading a post on a local community page on Facebook."
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