A dog to some, A devoted family member to this family.
I was so moved by this story I just had to add him so he also, is never forgotten.
By Frank Otto, The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa.
Posted: 02/24/14
"WEST POTTSGROVE — Vantoria Carter's eyes fill with tears when she recalls the last time she saw her dog,
In a rush to leave for North Carolina to visit with a family member with terminal brain cancer, Carter didn't give Journee, an Akita-German Shepherd mix, the goodbye she always saved for him.
"Normally, I stop and say, ‘Mommy loves you,'" Carter said Monday. "But I was in such a rush I said, ‘Todd, (the house-sitter), will be by to feed you.' And I ran out and closed the door. I closed the door on him."
A fire started in Carter's apartment Saturday morning and damaged it, displacing her, her young grandson Quantrell Raveneau, and four others in the apartment building on the 500 block of Old Reading Pike. It also killed Journee.
Carter raised the dog, who was going to be 12-years-old next month, from when he was a 2-month-old puppy.
Although the fire has Carter virtually homeless, she said, the full extent of what happened won't hit her until she walks back in to the apartment to survey the damage and Journee won't be with her.
"The day I walk in there they are not going to be prepared for me," she said, tearfully. "That face will not be there."
Disabled by a "dystrophy" that has caused seizures, Carter said she and her dog were extremely close and used to watched television together, especially when she worked long shifts as a restaurant manager.
"Journee had his own TV," Carter said. "When I worked so long, I'd be gone for 15 hours and he'd get separation anxiety. So he'd have that TV."
Just a week ago, Carter took Journee outside to play in the snow with Quantrell and took several photos on her phone.
Saturday, Carter got the call about her apartment burning and Journee's death.
"I just fell to the floor," she said. "I was screaming."
West Pottsgrove Police responded to the scene along with the West End Fire Company and Goodwill Ambulance around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police Chief Earl Swavely said the township's animal control officer, John Daywalt, was called to the scene when the dog was discovered by firefighters.
Carter is upset because she wasn't given Journee's body to bury on her own terms.
Daywalt said he had to act quickly because of the heat's effect on the dog's body.
"We had to make arrangements right away," he said.
Although Carter said her landlord tried to get Journee's body, Daywalt said no one ever contacted him.
Journee was buried in a restricted area where animals are normally taken after such circumstances, Daywalt said. A West Pottsgrove police officer told Carter that Journee was wrapped in cloth which was pulled out of the apartment, buried and a prayer was said over him.
Carter said she has also lost all her material possessions. She didn't have renter's insurance.
"What you see on us now is what we left with," Carter said Monday, pointing to herself and Quantrell. "He didn't even have this jacket. That's from (West Pottsgrove Elementary) School. They gave it to him."
Staying in a hotel courtesy of the Red Cross, Carter said she and Quantrell will be homeless after Thursday. Her landlord plans on rebuilding the apartments but they likely won't be finished that quickly.
Although Carter said she normally "packs for 30 days" when she goes anywhere, Carter said she was in such a rush that she didn't pack much for herself and her grandson.
"We have nothing," she said, pointing to the pile of clothes and other things outside of her apartment. "That's our jackets right there."
Kristi Solis said Carter is a regular client of hers at the bank she works in and feels bad for her.
"Basically, I kind of just asked everyone in the neighborhood in Stowe," if they could donate clothes or money, Solis said. "I know she works really hard to take care of her grandson and it could happen to anyone."
Those going to a Wells Fargo bank branch anywhere in the area can donate money by asking for the Vantoria Carter Donation Fund.
Solis said she's gotten a lot of response quickly looking to help.
"It restores your faith in humanity," Solis said. "It's been really great."
Officially, the cause of the fire hasn't been determined but Carter believes it started in her linen closet. She said her house-sitter, Todd, only left a single light and the television on when he left Saturday morning.
Even in face of the loss of most of their possessions and their living space, Carter and Quantrell are finding it difficult to get over the loss of their dog.
"When we were driving back, Quantrell usually has Lunchables," Carter said. "Quantrell would have the crackers and cheese. Journee would have the meat. (Quantrell) said, ‘This is Journee's meat. Where can I save it?'"
'When I saw in (The Mercury) article that it said a dog died, I just wanted to put a face to that,' Carter said. 'He was more than just a dog.'"
I was so moved by this story I just had to add him so he also, is never forgotten.
By Frank Otto, The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa.
Posted: 02/24/14
"WEST POTTSGROVE — Vantoria Carter's eyes fill with tears when she recalls the last time she saw her dog,
In a rush to leave for North Carolina to visit with a family member with terminal brain cancer, Carter didn't give Journee, an Akita-German Shepherd mix, the goodbye she always saved for him.
"Normally, I stop and say, ‘Mommy loves you,'" Carter said Monday. "But I was in such a rush I said, ‘Todd, (the house-sitter), will be by to feed you.' And I ran out and closed the door. I closed the door on him."
A fire started in Carter's apartment Saturday morning and damaged it, displacing her, her young grandson Quantrell Raveneau, and four others in the apartment building on the 500 block of Old Reading Pike. It also killed Journee.
Carter raised the dog, who was going to be 12-years-old next month, from when he was a 2-month-old puppy.
Although the fire has Carter virtually homeless, she said, the full extent of what happened won't hit her until she walks back in to the apartment to survey the damage and Journee won't be with her.
"The day I walk in there they are not going to be prepared for me," she said, tearfully. "That face will not be there."
Disabled by a "dystrophy" that has caused seizures, Carter said she and her dog were extremely close and used to watched television together, especially when she worked long shifts as a restaurant manager.
"Journee had his own TV," Carter said. "When I worked so long, I'd be gone for 15 hours and he'd get separation anxiety. So he'd have that TV."
Just a week ago, Carter took Journee outside to play in the snow with Quantrell and took several photos on her phone.
Saturday, Carter got the call about her apartment burning and Journee's death.
"I just fell to the floor," she said. "I was screaming."
West Pottsgrove Police responded to the scene along with the West End Fire Company and Goodwill Ambulance around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police Chief Earl Swavely said the township's animal control officer, John Daywalt, was called to the scene when the dog was discovered by firefighters.
Carter is upset because she wasn't given Journee's body to bury on her own terms.
Daywalt said he had to act quickly because of the heat's effect on the dog's body.
"We had to make arrangements right away," he said.
Although Carter said her landlord tried to get Journee's body, Daywalt said no one ever contacted him.
Journee was buried in a restricted area where animals are normally taken after such circumstances, Daywalt said. A West Pottsgrove police officer told Carter that Journee was wrapped in cloth which was pulled out of the apartment, buried and a prayer was said over him.
Carter said she has also lost all her material possessions. She didn't have renter's insurance.
"What you see on us now is what we left with," Carter said Monday, pointing to herself and Quantrell. "He didn't even have this jacket. That's from (West Pottsgrove Elementary) School. They gave it to him."
Staying in a hotel courtesy of the Red Cross, Carter said she and Quantrell will be homeless after Thursday. Her landlord plans on rebuilding the apartments but they likely won't be finished that quickly.
Although Carter said she normally "packs for 30 days" when she goes anywhere, Carter said she was in such a rush that she didn't pack much for herself and her grandson.
"We have nothing," she said, pointing to the pile of clothes and other things outside of her apartment. "That's our jackets right there."
Kristi Solis said Carter is a regular client of hers at the bank she works in and feels bad for her.
"Basically, I kind of just asked everyone in the neighborhood in Stowe," if they could donate clothes or money, Solis said. "I know she works really hard to take care of her grandson and it could happen to anyone."
Those going to a Wells Fargo bank branch anywhere in the area can donate money by asking for the Vantoria Carter Donation Fund.
Solis said she's gotten a lot of response quickly looking to help.
"It restores your faith in humanity," Solis said. "It's been really great."
Officially, the cause of the fire hasn't been determined but Carter believes it started in her linen closet. She said her house-sitter, Todd, only left a single light and the television on when he left Saturday morning.
Even in face of the loss of most of their possessions and their living space, Carter and Quantrell are finding it difficult to get over the loss of their dog.
"When we were driving back, Quantrell usually has Lunchables," Carter said. "Quantrell would have the crackers and cheese. Journee would have the meat. (Quantrell) said, ‘This is Journee's meat. Where can I save it?'"
'When I saw in (The Mercury) article that it said a dog died, I just wanted to put a face to that,' Carter said. 'He was more than just a dog.'"
A dog to some, A devoted family member to this family.
I was so moved by this story I just had to add him so he also, is never forgotten.
By Frank Otto, The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa.
Posted: 02/24/14
"WEST POTTSGROVE — Vantoria Carter's eyes fill with tears when she recalls the last time she saw her dog,
In a rush to leave for North Carolina to visit with a family member with terminal brain cancer, Carter didn't give Journee, an Akita-German Shepherd mix, the goodbye she always saved for him.
"Normally, I stop and say, ‘Mommy loves you,'" Carter said Monday. "But I was in such a rush I said, ‘Todd, (the house-sitter), will be by to feed you.' And I ran out and closed the door. I closed the door on him."
A fire started in Carter's apartment Saturday morning and damaged it, displacing her, her young grandson Quantrell Raveneau, and four others in the apartment building on the 500 block of Old Reading Pike. It also killed Journee.
Carter raised the dog, who was going to be 12-years-old next month, from when he was a 2-month-old puppy.
Although the fire has Carter virtually homeless, she said, the full extent of what happened won't hit her until she walks back in to the apartment to survey the damage and Journee won't be with her.
"The day I walk in there they are not going to be prepared for me," she said, tearfully. "That face will not be there."
Disabled by a "dystrophy" that has caused seizures, Carter said she and her dog were extremely close and used to watched television together, especially when she worked long shifts as a restaurant manager.
"Journee had his own TV," Carter said. "When I worked so long, I'd be gone for 15 hours and he'd get separation anxiety. So he'd have that TV."
Just a week ago, Carter took Journee outside to play in the snow with Quantrell and took several photos on her phone.
Saturday, Carter got the call about her apartment burning and Journee's death.
"I just fell to the floor," she said. "I was screaming."
West Pottsgrove Police responded to the scene along with the West End Fire Company and Goodwill Ambulance around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police Chief Earl Swavely said the township's animal control officer, John Daywalt, was called to the scene when the dog was discovered by firefighters.
Carter is upset because she wasn't given Journee's body to bury on her own terms.
Daywalt said he had to act quickly because of the heat's effect on the dog's body.
"We had to make arrangements right away," he said.
Although Carter said her landlord tried to get Journee's body, Daywalt said no one ever contacted him.
Journee was buried in a restricted area where animals are normally taken after such circumstances, Daywalt said. A West Pottsgrove police officer told Carter that Journee was wrapped in cloth which was pulled out of the apartment, buried and a prayer was said over him.
Carter said she has also lost all her material possessions. She didn't have renter's insurance.
"What you see on us now is what we left with," Carter said Monday, pointing to herself and Quantrell. "He didn't even have this jacket. That's from (West Pottsgrove Elementary) School. They gave it to him."
Staying in a hotel courtesy of the Red Cross, Carter said she and Quantrell will be homeless after Thursday. Her landlord plans on rebuilding the apartments but they likely won't be finished that quickly.
Although Carter said she normally "packs for 30 days" when she goes anywhere, Carter said she was in such a rush that she didn't pack much for herself and her grandson.
"We have nothing," she said, pointing to the pile of clothes and other things outside of her apartment. "That's our jackets right there."
Kristi Solis said Carter is a regular client of hers at the bank she works in and feels bad for her.
"Basically, I kind of just asked everyone in the neighborhood in Stowe," if they could donate clothes or money, Solis said. "I know she works really hard to take care of her grandson and it could happen to anyone."
Those going to a Wells Fargo bank branch anywhere in the area can donate money by asking for the Vantoria Carter Donation Fund.
Solis said she's gotten a lot of response quickly looking to help.
"It restores your faith in humanity," Solis said. "It's been really great."
Officially, the cause of the fire hasn't been determined but Carter believes it started in her linen closet. She said her house-sitter, Todd, only left a single light and the television on when he left Saturday morning.
Even in face of the loss of most of their possessions and their living space, Carter and Quantrell are finding it difficult to get over the loss of their dog.
"When we were driving back, Quantrell usually has Lunchables," Carter said. "Quantrell would have the crackers and cheese. Journee would have the meat. (Quantrell) said, ‘This is Journee's meat. Where can I save it?'"
'When I saw in (The Mercury) article that it said a dog died, I just wanted to put a face to that,' Carter said. 'He was more than just a dog.'"
I was so moved by this story I just had to add him so he also, is never forgotten.
By Frank Otto, The Mercury, Pottstown, Pa.
Posted: 02/24/14
"WEST POTTSGROVE — Vantoria Carter's eyes fill with tears when she recalls the last time she saw her dog,
In a rush to leave for North Carolina to visit with a family member with terminal brain cancer, Carter didn't give Journee, an Akita-German Shepherd mix, the goodbye she always saved for him.
"Normally, I stop and say, ‘Mommy loves you,'" Carter said Monday. "But I was in such a rush I said, ‘Todd, (the house-sitter), will be by to feed you.' And I ran out and closed the door. I closed the door on him."
A fire started in Carter's apartment Saturday morning and damaged it, displacing her, her young grandson Quantrell Raveneau, and four others in the apartment building on the 500 block of Old Reading Pike. It also killed Journee.
Carter raised the dog, who was going to be 12-years-old next month, from when he was a 2-month-old puppy.
Although the fire has Carter virtually homeless, she said, the full extent of what happened won't hit her until she walks back in to the apartment to survey the damage and Journee won't be with her.
"The day I walk in there they are not going to be prepared for me," she said, tearfully. "That face will not be there."
Disabled by a "dystrophy" that has caused seizures, Carter said she and her dog were extremely close and used to watched television together, especially when she worked long shifts as a restaurant manager.
"Journee had his own TV," Carter said. "When I worked so long, I'd be gone for 15 hours and he'd get separation anxiety. So he'd have that TV."
Just a week ago, Carter took Journee outside to play in the snow with Quantrell and took several photos on her phone.
Saturday, Carter got the call about her apartment burning and Journee's death.
"I just fell to the floor," she said. "I was screaming."
West Pottsgrove Police responded to the scene along with the West End Fire Company and Goodwill Ambulance around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Police Chief Earl Swavely said the township's animal control officer, John Daywalt, was called to the scene when the dog was discovered by firefighters.
Carter is upset because she wasn't given Journee's body to bury on her own terms.
Daywalt said he had to act quickly because of the heat's effect on the dog's body.
"We had to make arrangements right away," he said.
Although Carter said her landlord tried to get Journee's body, Daywalt said no one ever contacted him.
Journee was buried in a restricted area where animals are normally taken after such circumstances, Daywalt said. A West Pottsgrove police officer told Carter that Journee was wrapped in cloth which was pulled out of the apartment, buried and a prayer was said over him.
Carter said she has also lost all her material possessions. She didn't have renter's insurance.
"What you see on us now is what we left with," Carter said Monday, pointing to herself and Quantrell. "He didn't even have this jacket. That's from (West Pottsgrove Elementary) School. They gave it to him."
Staying in a hotel courtesy of the Red Cross, Carter said she and Quantrell will be homeless after Thursday. Her landlord plans on rebuilding the apartments but they likely won't be finished that quickly.
Although Carter said she normally "packs for 30 days" when she goes anywhere, Carter said she was in such a rush that she didn't pack much for herself and her grandson.
"We have nothing," she said, pointing to the pile of clothes and other things outside of her apartment. "That's our jackets right there."
Kristi Solis said Carter is a regular client of hers at the bank she works in and feels bad for her.
"Basically, I kind of just asked everyone in the neighborhood in Stowe," if they could donate clothes or money, Solis said. "I know she works really hard to take care of her grandson and it could happen to anyone."
Those going to a Wells Fargo bank branch anywhere in the area can donate money by asking for the Vantoria Carter Donation Fund.
Solis said she's gotten a lot of response quickly looking to help.
"It restores your faith in humanity," Solis said. "It's been really great."
Officially, the cause of the fire hasn't been determined but Carter believes it started in her linen closet. She said her house-sitter, Todd, only left a single light and the television on when he left Saturday morning.
Even in face of the loss of most of their possessions and their living space, Carter and Quantrell are finding it difficult to get over the loss of their dog.
"When we were driving back, Quantrell usually has Lunchables," Carter said. "Quantrell would have the crackers and cheese. Journee would have the meat. (Quantrell) said, ‘This is Journee's meat. Where can I save it?'"
'When I saw in (The Mercury) article that it said a dog died, I just wanted to put a face to that,' Carter said. 'He was more than just a dog.'"
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