Tiki Bear Gets Facebook Page to Pay Vet Bills

The daughter of a Gate Street couple whose home was heavily damaged by fire on Tuesday has started a Facebook page to help the family's cat, Tiki Bear, with her veterinary care.

Lexi Adams, the daughter of David and Deborah Adams of 215 Gates St., said she started the Facebook page to help her parents pay for Tiki Bear's growing vet bills as the cat fights for her life.

Portsmouth firefighters Dave Herrholtz and Tim Dame gave Tiki Bear oxygen after she was rescued from the home on Tuesday morning and restored her breathing. Tiki Bear was then transported by Portsmouth Police cruiser to a veterinary clinic where she remains in intensive care.

"Thank you for the article you wrote for Portsmouth Patch about my parents' house fire on Gates St. Because of the press attention, they've received a lot of kind words and support from the community," Lexi Adams wrote in an e-mail.

She said Tiki Bear's Facebook page will give people updates on her condition as she recovers and if people want to contribute any donations to pay for her medical care, they can do that also.

The fire at the Adams' home was reported shortly after 11 a.m. and firefighters from Portsmouth, Rye, Dover, Hampton and North Hampton responded to the scene. Portsmouth Fire Chief Christopher LeClaire said the fire was knocked down in 20 minutes and firefighters did a great job to prevent it from spreading from the 1742 home to other historic, wooden houses in the South End neighborhood.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.