Feb. 01--Donations are stacking up for Anderson County Sheriff's Office animal control officer Jamie Turner, who lost her home to a fire this weekend.

Cristina Turner, Jamie's mother, said the fire likely started when the family's 200- to 300-pound pig named Fern somehow knocked over a secured heat lamp and the fire spread to the family's Starr home.

Cristina, Jamie and Jamie's 14-month-old daughter Brayleigh share the home. Cristina is a volunteer with the Sheriff's Office's search and rescue team.

Fern survived, Cristina Turner said, as did two goats who shared the pig pen, two horses and an outdoor dog.

Two indoor dogs, named Cooper and Grace, and three birds died in the fire.

Cooper was well known in the neighborhood as a stubby legged Jack Russell and dachshund mix who would dance around the horses as the family went for 10- to 15-mile trail rides, Cristina Turner said.

The family will be cremating their animals today and talking with insurance officials before moving into an Anderson home they had been preparing to sell.

The home was expected to go on the market Monday.

Cristina Turner said it was a blessing to have a home to move into when many others would be scrambling for an apartment.

Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride said Jamie Turner is an excellent officer with a passion for animals, which makes the loss of her pets an tough blow.

There are piles of donations at the Sheriff's Office building on Carl Anderson Way across from the Civic Center of Anderson. Clothes and personal supplies, even paper plates, have been donated, McBride said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by Anita Donley, a special operations administrative assistant for the Sheriff's Office.

Donley said the fundraising page was set up Sunday night. It has already raised $6,795 of a $10,000 goal.

Turner asked that anyone donating supplies or through the fundraising page leave their name and address so she can send personal thanks.

"That's how grateful she is," Donley said.

Refresh this story for the latest information.

Follow Mike Ellis on Twitter @MikeEllis_AIM

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OLDWICK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) to “a” (Excellent) from “a-” (Excellent) of most of the subsidiaries of Sagicor Financial Company Ltd. (Bermuda). These subsidiaries — Sagicor Life Inc. and Sagicor General Insurance Inc. (both domiciled in St. Michael, Barbados), Sagicor Life Insurance Company (Austin, TX) and ivari (Toronto, Canada) — collectively are referred to as Sagicor Financial by AM Best and represent the organization’s Canadian, United States and a portion of the Caribbean operating companies. In addition, AM Best has upgraded the Long-Term ICR to “bbb” (Good) from “bbb-” (Good) and the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating (Long-Term IR) to “bbb+” (Good) from “bbb” (Good) of the $550 million, 5.3% senior unsecured notes, due 2028, of Sagicor Financial Company Ltd., the ultimate parent. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the FSR of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term ICR of “a-” (Excellent) of Sagicor Reinsurance Bermuda Ltd. (SRBL) (Bermuda), as well as the FSR of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term ICR of “bbb+” (Good) of Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited (SLJ) (Kingston, Jamaica). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable.

The ratings reflect Sagicor Financial’s balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM).

AM Best views Sagicor Financial’s consolidated risk-adjusted capitalization as strongest, as measured by Best’s Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), supported by diversified operational earnings from multiple subsidiaries. Financial flexibility is demonstrated via multiple debt issuances as well as a revolving credit line. Financial leverage and debt service coverage metrics support Sagicor Financial’s current ratings. Liquidity is adequate and in line with peers. The investment portfolio is conservative with a majority allocation to government and corporate bonds, alongside equity and commercial mortgage loans positions.

Sagicor Financial’s strong operating performance is driven by a track record of consistently positive earnings spread over multiple subsidiaries and geographic areas including Canada, United States and the Caribbean. Premium growth has been steady with continued new business recorded at the consolidated level. Investment performance has also been strong with net yields that outperform peers. Overall volatility has slowly been decreasing driven by a more conservative investment portfolio and a larger asset base.

Sagicor Financial’s neutral business profile reflects very strong market presences in the Caribbean and Canadian markets, as well as a captive agency force, which maintains strong business growth in multiple Caribbean territories. Sagicor Financial utilizes a large set of independent agents and independent marketing organizations in Canada and the United States. Offsetting these strengths is an elevated level of country risk which stems from Caribbean operations. ERM framework is appropriate for size and scale of the organization’s operations and includes proper subsidiary oversight and consistency in risk mitigation activities.

In addition to the consolidated ratings at Sagicor Financial, two additional entities are rated for the Bermuda and Jamaica operations. The ratings of SRBL reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate ERM. SRBL optimizes group-wide capital and its ratings benefit from a capital maintenance agreement with Sagicor Financial Company Ltd.

The ratings of SLJ reflect its balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as strong, as well as its strong operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate ERM. SLJ has a very strong market position in Jamaica and a consistent history of revenue and earnings, which has led to balance sheet growth. Offsetting rating factors include an elevated country risk level in Jamaica.

This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best’s website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best’s Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments.

AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.

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Financial Analyst

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Associate Director

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Source: AM Best