UPPER WEST SIDE — A medical clinic for exotic animals needs money to repair its facilities after a hot water pipe burst Monday, killing a hedgehog, two rabbits and seven parrots, according the manager.
The plumbing disaster at The Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine at 562 Columbus Ave. caused major water damage to the office in addition to killing and displacing the precision beasts about 8 a.m. No people were injured, according to the FDNY.
"It's devastating. For us, to lose our patients and boarders not because they were sick or old but because of a mechanical problem out of our control is heartbreaking," said Lorelei Tibetts, the manager. "It's a very emotional time for us. There's a lot of damage, pretty much all of our equipment is damaged."
The animals that died most likely overheated or suffocated because of steam released from the broken pipe, she said.
Four of the animals killed were patients at the clinic and the other six were staying at the center while their owners were away.
There were about 30 animals at the clinic when the pipe burst.
The animals that survived were sent back to their owners, the ASPCA or to the Animal General veterinary hospital.
Some of the animals taken to Animal General included a large red-footed tortoise and two Pogona reptiles.
"They are delicate animals, they were really scared and stressed," Tibetts said. "We're monitoring them [at Animal General]."
The center set up a fundraising page for $35,000 on GoFundMe Tuesday.
"We are waiting to hear what kind of assistance the insurance company will provide, but we need help," the fundraising page read. "We are trying to keep paying our employees, replace medical equipment that has been destroyed, and reestablish computer/software/telephone systems that are ruined."
The clinic provides medical and surgical care to exotic pets “in a peaceful and calm environment free from dogs and cats,” according to its website.
The center cares for animals like parrots, aquatic turtles and iguanas.
