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Final Update #211/26/08 Once again the opening date of our store has to be pushed due to the negotiations with our insurance company. We apologize again for any inconvenience as we are also anxiously waiting for the re-opening of Paws. The official opening of our store will be on December 15th. We are anticipating the opening of our new store and are excited for you all to come visit us! Final Update (???)11/16/08 Our new location is coming into shape, but our previous estimates of a November 15 opening have proven to be optimistic. Having reassessed our present situation, we estimate at minimum another two weeks until our location is ready to set the shelves and begin restocking them. Our current projection is for a December 1st opening. We are painfully aware of the need for Paws to be re-opened, both for our community and for ourselves. This year more than in the past, the Thanksgiving holiday reminds us that despite our recent misfortunes, we continue to be greatly blessed. We truly appreciate the continued loyalty and extended patience of our customers. NEW STORE LOCATION!!!We are moving forward towards reopening! Our new location has been secured and we are currently going through the build out. In a couple weeks we should be open at our new store located at: 912 N. New York St WE NEED YOUR HELP!With our new location underway(still TBA), we are looking for some new ideas for the new store. We're open to any and all suggestions our loyal customers may have. Please fill out this poll below and if you have any other ideas, send them to store@pawsredlands.com. It has now been one month since the fire, and slowly things are moving forward. We are in the negotiation phase of a new lease, and we hope to have that concluded early this week. Once we take posession of the building, we will need to do a quick build-out, install phone, alarm, and computer systems, and complete the necessary inspections by the city and we will be open for business. It is our fervent hope that we can be open by November 1, but if this experience has taught us anything, it is that all things operate in their own time. The continued patience and good wishes of our customers is appreciated. We know that many of you depend upon us for the supplies you need to care for your pets, and you are the driving force behind our rebuilding efforts. We wish to dispell some of the rumors which have been circulating around town. There are many going around. These are merely the ones we are aware of. 1. Paws burned down because of a coffee pot. UNTRUE The fire's origin was in the counter where we have faced our customers for the last 12 years. There is nothing electrical, chemical, or otherwise suspicious to point to as the source of ignition. The cause of the fire is yet undetermined, but the most likely explanations are either a faulty blinking LED collar(made in CHINA), or less likely, a spill of an animal fat (i.e. Salmon Oil) cleaned up with a natural fiber towel (paper, cotton) which combusted. The entire incident is caught on our security cameras, and it trully apears to begin out of nothing. The term "Act of God" has come up many times. 2. Our insurance won't cover our damages. UNTRUE Traveller's Insurance has provided us fantastic service and has been exemplary in their handling of our claim. We have completed the claim on our contents and should receive disbursement sometime this week. We will have an ongoing claim for our lost business revenue, which will remain open for some time. 3. We are not re-opening. UNTRUE As tempting as it would be to take the money and relax for awhile, We are VERY commited to our cause of supplying our community with the best food the best toys for best friends! 09/21/08 - 5:09pm Just over a week has passed since the fire, and progress is being made towards the re-opening of Paws. Thanks to the truly brave work of the Redlands Fire Department, the building we occupied sustained minimal damage, and the adjacent buildings were essentially unaffected. Although the fire was put out within 10 minutes, the damage caused to products and packaging by the intense heat and the hazardous smoke (from construction adhesives, acrylic fixtures, and a MELAMINE counter) rendered all of our inventory a total loss. We are properly insured, and our claim is proceeding, but everything moves in its own time. We are trying to make something good come from this terrible situation, and to that end we have donated a tremendous amount of our salvageable-but-not-saleable inventory to both local and out-of-state shelters. Redlands Animal Shelter has received enough food (from our rear storage room) to operate their facility until Spring 2009. All of our cat furniture will be distributed among the Redlands Animal Shelter, San Bernardino Valley Humane Society, and other local rescue groups and foster homes, thanks to Bill at the Redlands Animal Shelter. Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah will receive all of our nylon, leather, and training collars and leads, as well as clothing. We plan to donate all salvageable shoes and boots to Canine Peace Officers in local search and rescue, fire and police departments. We have vacated the building at 112 E. State Street so that repairs and restoration can begin. While State Street has been good to us, it is painfully evident that we outgrew our original location several years ago, and we have been in serious discussions for some time about our long-term future. To that end, we have compiled a substantial inventory of available properties, and now that clean-up efforts are completed, we can turn our attention towards finding our future location. While a short-term return is not ruled out, the long term solution for Paws requires more space and more parking than State Street can provide. Our desire is to stay in Redlands. The last week has truly impressed upon us the wonderful, supportive community Redlands is, and the value of the many friendships we have made over the last 12 years with our customers. The next few days should provide us with more information, and as we make any decisions, we will continue to keep pawsredlands.com updated. The continued prayers, good wishes and patience of all our customers is genuinely appreciated. Stephen and Karyn Lehmann Tom Stretton Amanda Artz |