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October 23, 2023
Fire strikes local exotic animal outreach, two beloved animals die
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Two animals were killed in a catastrophic fire on the Happy Tails Entertainment ranch. The fire, which also destroyed buildings and equipment, tore through the Pipe Creek property Thursday night, around 11:30 p.m.
The animal facility and storage barn, as well as equipment, tools, storage, and food and housing for the animals were a complete loss, according to owner Mark Lenihan.
For 15 years, Lenihan, with his wife Anita and family, have shared their traveling collection of exotic animals with excited kids - ages 1 to 100 - throughout the Hill Country and beyond. From alpacas to wallabies, the Happy Tails animal family spans the alphabet, including African porcupines, a couple of capybaras, a coatimundi, Duke the ball python, Eragon the bearded dragon, Huey the prairie dog, a ring-tailed lemur, tortoises, and more.
In addition to a child-friendly petting zoo, the Lenihans seek to educate the community through a hands-on and up-close experience with animals they have raised since birth.
“We are all doing well considering the circumstances…we did lose two animals, but the other 16 animals that live outside are doing well,” Lenihan said. “We are reaching out for help via donations, service based assistance, and donated equipment to properly care for our animals in the manner they deserve.”
A gofundme has been set up to help the family recover. See more at https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-tails-entertainment-fire-rebuild?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
“A huge thank you to the Pipe Creek firefighters,” Lenihan said, adding firefighters have continued to check on the animals, and helped clean the damaged buildings.
See more about Happy Tails Entertainment at https://www.happytailsent.com/
The animal facility and storage barn, as well as equipment, tools, storage, and food and housing for the animals were a complete loss, according to owner Mark Lenihan.
For 15 years, Lenihan, with his wife Anita and family, have shared their traveling collection of exotic animals with excited kids - ages 1 to 100 - throughout the Hill Country and beyond. From alpacas to wallabies, the Happy Tails animal family spans the alphabet, including African porcupines, a couple of capybaras, a coatimundi, Duke the ball python, Eragon the bearded dragon, Huey the prairie dog, a ring-tailed lemur, tortoises, and more.
In addition to a child-friendly petting zoo, the Lenihans seek to educate the community through a hands-on and up-close experience with animals they have raised since birth.
“We are all doing well considering the circumstances…we did lose two animals, but the other 16 animals that live outside are doing well,” Lenihan said. “We are reaching out for help via donations, service based assistance, and donated equipment to properly care for our animals in the manner they deserve.”
A gofundme has been set up to help the family recover. See more at https://www.gofundme.com/f/happy-tails-entertainment-fire-rebuild?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook
“A huge thank you to the Pipe Creek firefighters,” Lenihan said, adding firefighters have continued to check on the animals, and helped clean the damaged buildings.
See more about Happy Tails Entertainment at https://www.happytailsent.com/