A PUB manager has spoken of his devastation at a fire which ripped through a country pub and killed a family pet.
Police and the fire service are probing the cause of the blaze, which seriously damaged The Nags Head at Ridley Wood, Wrexham.
It is understood the pub’s previous owners moved out on March 20 and new owners were due to take over last Friday.
Two dogs belonging to the previous owners were being cared for at the property by pub manager Mick Rogers when the fire broke out.
Mick, who has worked there for seven years, says he is “devastated” by the death of two-year-old Jack Russell, Lucy, who was rescued by firefighters but died later from smoke inhalation.
One-year-old Jack Russell puppy Jack survived the blaze and is now being cared for by vets.
Mick, from Wrexham, said: “It’s crazy – absolutely crazy. I have looked after those dogs from day one.
“During the week the pub was closed I went there every day to let them out and to feed them.
“After the fire, the dogs were being cared for at the vets. Then I got a call on Friday night to say they had had to put Lucy to sleep.
“They have kept Jack in for the weekend to keep an eye on him.
“You grow so attached to pets. If it was possible, I would bring Jack to my home in an instant but it is just not feasible.”
Emergency services were alerted to the fire at the pub, which lies on the B5130 between Holt and Isycoed, at 11.15pm on Thursday.
Three crews from Wrexham were called to the scene and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hosereel jets to fight the blaze.
A fire service spokesman said: “The fire was under control by 1.08am and the cause is now under investigation.
“A first-floor bedroom was heavily damaged by fire and two other bedrooms were damaged by fire and smoke.
“There was also smoke damage to the first floor area and the ground floor. We have no record of anybody having been inside the building at the time of the fire.”
A North Wales Police spokesman added: “The scene was cordoned off on Friday morning. A joint investigation is under way between North Wales Police and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.”
Mick said the disappearance of the previous tenants remains a mystery and his job also hangs in the balance. “I turned up for my shift on Monday morning and the place was empty,” he said.
“I informed the brewery and me and the chef set about cleaning the place up for the new owners.
“To the best of my knowledge they are still going to take over the pub.”
Chester-based Admiral Taverns, which leases the pub, were unavailable for comment yesterday.
Anyone with information about the fire can call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.