DANVILLE -- A Danville couple, whose home was destroyed by fire, their cat killed and their dog missing, recently got some good news.

Robert and Linda McCormick have received calls from people owning properties in West Milton, Riverside and Berwick offering prospective places up for rent.

The Danville Area Red Cross Chapter issued a plea for housing for the McCormicks, who hope to rent in the Danville area.

Robert, 47, works at Swisher's Disposal in the Bloomsburg area and Linda is disabled. They need a ground-floor location since Linda has trouble with steps. The Riverside location was a mobile home.

"It's a blessing how people are -- especially when you come from a big city," said Linda who is from the St. Louis, Mo., area.

Besides calls about places to rent, they got a couple calls from people with furniture to give them.

"One woman said she'd hang onto it until we move," Robert said.

Insurance from Robert's mother, Nancy McCormick, who owns the house destroyed by fire, covered their stay at the Red Roof Inn through Friday. Linda expected to receive her disability check Friday and use it to extend their stay.

"We have set up some appointments to go look," Linda said Friday. "The West Milton one includes everything and some furniture."

This isn't the first fire she has experienced.

"I remember as a little girl, my mother, me and my dad went somewhere and when we came back, the house was on fire," she said. "I vaguely remember it but I will never forget it."

Linda said their cat, Frisky, died in the fire at their home at 715 E. Market St. on Dec. 26.

They fear their red Dachshund, Zanzibar, also died.

"He woke me up pretty good and then I heard a boom and saw flames," Linda said. "I said to Bob, let's go.

"I'm afraid he was caught inside the house."