Ontario Shelter Fire Kills Nearly 200 Animals

December 18, 2008 | By Robin Wallace

Nearly 200 shelter animals lost their lives early Wednesday morning, after a fire raged through the Humane Society of Durham Region in Oshawa, Ontario. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Jerry Crum)

NEWMARKET, Ontario -- It was the middle-of-the-night phone call no one wants to get, but at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday the Humane Society of Durham Region staff woke to the voice of the Ontario Fire Marshal.

A fire broke out at the shelter, and it was bad.

"The facility was destroyed," said spokeswoman Alison Cross of Ontario SPCA. "Many animals lost their lives during the fire and it has been very traumatic for the staff and volunteers -- they spend every day trying to give these animals a second chance, and then to have something like this happen is just devastating."

Out of the estimated 200 animals being housed at the Oshawa-based shelter, only six dogs, two cats and one rat survived.

"It's a rough estimate -- 160 -- but we won't know for sure for another day or so," Cross said of how many animal lives were lost in the fire, which also cost more than $250,000 in damages.

Set in an industrial complex, the fire could have started in another unit connected to the shelter, "but the fire marshal hasn't released the location of where the actual fire started yet," Cross said.

While the investigation is still ongoing, Cross says it is unclear if the facility was equipped with a sprinkler system, although Ontario's fire safety regulations are required for all buildings.

"I don't know if it [regulations] changes when animals are involved.

"But I know they will be looking for ways to prevent this from happening again in-full," said Cross, who is acting as the spokeswoman for the Humane Society per its request.

"They are very emotional about this and are trying to piece things together now," she said.

Part of "piecing things together" includes finding a temporary home for the survivors, and locating for a temporary facility, so business can resume as soon as possible.

The community's outpouring of response and concern was instantaneous.

"Everybody has been very supportive and monetary donations have been rolling in," Cross said. "And so many supporters have been out there, looking to help the animals that did survive, and there's people offering space and offices to set-up a temporary facility.

"So the support has been really overwhelming."

After Pet Pulse's Thursday morning interview with Cross, more support surfaced for the Humane Society of Durham Region.

The IAMS SuperDogs show, a popular North American family event, will bring their canine spectacle to the General Motors Centre, in Oshawa, on Tuesday, Dec. 30. The event will help raise money for reconstruction efforts.

"Global Spectrum Facility Management is pleased and proud to have this opportunity to partner with IAMS SuperDogs, and lend a helping hand to the Humane Society of Durham Region, during this difficult time," said Global Spectrum's Vince Vella, general manager of the General Motors Centre.

Global Spectrum and IAMS will donate a portion of the proceeds from the event and collect donations at the gates.

Support has also come to the Humane Society by way of adoption requests. While some of the animals remain hospitalized for observation due to smoke inhalation, others have been given a cozy home with Oshawa Animal Services.

Yet, until records have been straightened out, no adoptions will be taking place.

"There have been requests to adopt the animals but they are staying at the Oshawa until we know fully what is going," said Cross. "Not all the animals in the shelter are eligible for adoption -- some were part of an investigation. So we have to make sure the surviving animals are taken care of and until this is organized and straightened out."

In the meantime, the Ontario SPCA will continue to be the voice for the Humane Society, and Oshawa Animal Services will care for the survivors and any newcomers.

Yet, it will be up to the community to help the staff and volunteers in picking up the pieces, mend broken hearts and rebuild.

For more information or to donate, visit the Humane Society of Durham Region's Web site, HumaneDurham.com, or contacting the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-ONT-SPCA (668-7722) ext. 323.

Tickets for the IAMS event are available at the General Motors Centre Box Office, which can by phone at 1-877-436-8811, or online at GeneralMotorsCentre.com.

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