Perry Boore dead at 82

Perry Boore has passed away after suffering injuries while rescuing dogs from his Oakland home when it caught fire Feb. 4.

Boore, 82, ran into his home several times to bring animals out of the blaze and had to be restrained from going in again, according to a witness on the scene of the blaze.

He was taken to Little Rock for treatment of extensive injuries and for a time was on a ventilator.

Boore created and ran Perry's Orphans Sanctuary at his Oakland property. The sanctuary was a haven for abandoned dogs for more than two decades, and Boore was well known throughout the Twin Lakes Area as a fierce advocate for dogs.

His daughter, Deborah Duran of Phoenix, Az., has said she intends to step into her father's role.

"I made a promise to my dad that I would take care of his animals," Duran said of her father. "I'm going to keep that promise."

When news of the fire spread, the community responded.

Friends and neighbors have been caring for the more than 60 dogs at the sanctuary while thousands of dollars and hundreds of pounds of dog food were collected to help the animals in the wake of the fire.

Minutes after The Baxter Bulletin broke the story of the fire, donations began pouring into Gregg Farm Services in Midway. By the next day, employees there had collected $4,000 in donations for Boore and his dogs.

"The phone started ringing about 15 minutes after The Baxter Bulletin put it up on the website," said Wendy Luna, an employee at the store. "The phone hasn't stopped ringing since."

Funeral arrangements for Boore are pending with Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation services.