NEWCASTLE, Wash. — People and pets are still feeling the impact of the winter blast over the last two weeks. The Animal Hospital of Newport Hills in Newcastle has been treating pets through a partial roof collapse. The flat roof wasn't able to handle the last big round of snow on Feb. 11.
“Rain was coming in from the ceilings,” Associate Manager Keera Campbell told KIRO 7 on Monday.
“All of our computers and phones were soaking wet.”
Workers found the mess when they opened Tuesday morning and scrambled to make sure they could still care for pets while working to stop the flow of water.
“We even did exams back in our surgery suites with clients holding their pets,” Campbell said. “We did anything we could.”
Fortunately, the damage is mostly contained to the lobby and a few exam rooms, not where pets are kept overnight. So, no animals were injured.
KIRO 7 talked to Peter Franklin, the contractor and owner of PJF Enterprises, who is tasked with the repair job.
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“There's not enough drainage on that roof to handle this, and that's what everyone's got to remember,” Franklin said. “You get up on these flat roofs, and there's only four drains up there.”
Franklin was taking measurements Monday and meeting with the roofer. He said the repairs should take a few weeks.
“It's going to be expensive,” he said.
When the last round of snow was falling, workers tried to clear the roof.
“On Monday, we knew this flat roof was going to be an issue,” Campbell said. “So, we had our manager up there, shoveling as much snow as they could where they knew the drains were.”
But the added snow proved too much, clogged the drains and caused extensive damage to the ceiling and floorboards. The business’ insurance will help cover the costs, and the animal hospital workers will do their best to make it business as usual during repairs.
While it's been a challenge for the humans, Campbell says the pets don't know any different.
“All of our boarding pets, hospitalized pets had no idea,” she said. “So that was the best part.”
Cox Media Group
