Popular Milton, Ga., tack shop Hamp’s Saddle and Tack burned to the ground on Dec. 8 after a fire broke out that evening.

A neighbor, Melissa Day, was driving by when she noticed the shop was on fire and woke owner Hamp Phillips and his grandson Lex Phillips, who were sleeping in the house on the property. The Milton Fire Department was able to contain the blaze and save the house. The only casualty was Hamp’s dog Pistol.

Hamp, 77, has owned and operated the shop for nearly 30 years after taking the business over from his father-in-law. He did his own leatherwork on site and had several buildings worth of inventory. Two of his back buildings still stand, and Hamp will continue his business out of those until he rebuilds.

“At one point he said he might retire,” said Pippa Sheehan, Hamp’s daughter. “Then his customer’s started a [GoFundMe page], and I said, ‘Daddy, you’re not retiring. Your customers are rebuilding this.’ The support from his customers and the outreach from the community just renewed his spirit [and has] given him a new passion for it.

“On the behalf of him and my family, thank you for the overwhelming support to his friends and customers; it’s meant so much to him,” she continued.