Woman's home lost to fire

LIBERTY TWP. — A Liberty Township home was lost in a fire Tuesday afternoon. The property also contains a dog care business. Just after 2:30 p.m., Liberty Township Fire Department was dispatched to 9747 Township Road 95 on a report of a structure fire. Firefighters found the house to be fully engulfed, according to a media release from the Hancock County Sheriff's Office. "We are pleased to report that the homeowner was able to make it out of the house without injury," a Tuesday Facebook post from the fire department said. More fire departments were called in to assist, and after hours of fighting and return trips to gather more water, the fire was put out, according to the release. The state Fire Marshal was called, in addition to AEP and the Red Cross. Township Road 95 was closed in the area of the scene for about four hours, the release states. The home belonged to Kymberley Soderholm, and the property houses Soderholm's dog kennel business, K9 Retreat and Spa. Soderholm said in a Tuesday Facebook post that the home is a total loss, and she lost her cat in the blaze as well. "Thank you to the many families who have reached out with kindness and offering," her post reads. "I don't know where to even begin as I am the one who helps." Her post goes on to say the property's kennels and garage were not affected by the fire. No dogs at the spa were injured, according to both the sheriff's office release and Soderholm's post. The property still has electricity, the post states, but Soderholm is in the process of regaining working water service. According to the K9 Retreat and Spa website, Soderholm moved to Findlay in 2017 to be closer to family. "I found Findlay and the kennel property by accident, and it spoke to my heart. So I picked up my son and moved to Findlay. I am proud to say I am a Findlayite!" reads the "About Me" section of the website. The site states the business is about more than just taking in dogs for the weekend. "I want to change the meaning behind being treated like a dog. Dogs should be part of our family, not something that can be sold or given away lightly. I believe if we all band together and change this, we will create a positive movement in our society where there is a sense of mutual respect and love for all living things," the site reads. A GoFundMe page has been set up to collect donations for Soderholm. "Kym and her business care for many dogs in the community like they're her own. She can use all the help she can get to continue her life and her livelihood," the GoFundMe page reads. The page had garnered 58 donations totaling $4,660 of its $7,000 goal at press time Wednesday. The Liberty Township Maintenance Department and Fire Department Auxiliary, Northwest Hancock Joint District Fire District, Allen Township Fire Department, Blanchard Township Fire Department, Southwest Hancock Joint Fire District, Hanco EMS, Hancock County Sheriff's Office and GLR Excavating assisted at the scene.