40 Animals Dead, Many Missing After Montco Animal Sanctuary Fire

WORCESTER TOWNSHIP, PA — At least 40 animals are dead and more than a dozen are missing after a fire ripped through a barn at a farm animal sanctuary in Montgomery County early Wednesday.

Owners of the House of Wiggle Goats in Worcester Township added that in addition to the deaths of many of their beloved rescues, another 12 are currently receiving emergency veterinary care.

The barn where the fire began was also destroyed.

The farm is still asking local residents to keep an eye out for any farm animals possibly wandering around the Lansdale and Worcester area, as there are still some missing and they could have wandered off after being scared by the fire.

See previous coverage: Fire Hits Farm Animal Sanctuary In Montgomery County

A GoFundMe for the Wiggle family, the owners of the farm, to help them care for the animals and rebuild, has raised $35,000 in a matter of hours.

"Erin, Michael, and their family took in neglected, unwanted, and abused animals," wrote Shaina Columbia, a family friend who launched the GoFundMe campaign. "They’ve rescued anything with a shell, fur, whiskers, horns, beards, feathers and beaks. This is devastating, to say the least, as they are still assessing, re-assessing, and searching for their animals in need of care."

Columbia fears the veterinary bills will be "astronomical."

The cause of the blaze is not yet clear and remains under investigation. Firefighters were on scene for hours overnight Wednesday into the morning hours bringing it under control.