Massive Animal Shelter Fire in Ontario Kills nearly 200 Animals!

Workers grapple with loss of 180 animals after 'nightmare' blaze at humane society
TENILLE BONOGUORE
December 18, 2008
The postcards came infrequently, plastered with joyful photos of once-neglected cats and dogs happily settled into new homes.
Staff at the Humane Society of Durham Region loved each new missive, and would pin them to the Happy Endings board in the reception area. In a job like theirs, such images were the ultimate satisfaction.
Yesterday morning, all of those cards and more than 180 animals awaiting their own happy endings perished in a fire that gutted the Oshawa shelter.
Only 12 animals were rescued: nine dogs, two cats and feisty Bernard the rat.
The society is now trying to find a temporary shelter, while workers grapple with the loss of animals they had known for up to three years.
Shelter manager Ruby Richards arrived at the industrial park where the shelter is located at 2:30 a.m. yesterday and saw flames and smoke billowing into the sky in the midst of a snowstorm. "It's a nightmare," she said yesterday.
The rescued animals were taken to a 24-hour animal hospital in Whitby. Six were later returned to a temporary office set up at the Oshawa shelter, while three dogs and two cats remained under the care of a veterinarian.
The Humane Society of Durham Region is a no-kill shelter, euthanizing only animals that are terminally ill or dangerous. Cats, dogs, rabbits, rodents and other small domestic animals - rescued, found or abandoned - stayed for as long as it took to find a home.
"This is not just a job; it's a life for us," said animal-cruelty investigation officer Debby Houghton. "We know their names, we know what they like and don't like, how they were abused. Staff would take months and months to turn them around, so they could find a new home. It's a passion."
Some of the deceased animals already had homes lined up: A family that was meant to pick up their adopted chihuahua on Monday joined mourners outside the charred building yesterday morning.
"It will be a tough Christmas," Ms. Houghton said.
The Ontario Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire, which caused an estimated $250,000 in damage.
Homes are being sought for the rescued animals, and with up to a dozen reports of animal abuse received in Durham Region each day, staff said there is little time to lose in setting up another shelter.
A mass cremation will be held for the deceased animals at the Oshawa Animal Services Centre. Ms. Richards said their ashes will be kept "until we can put them somewhere special."
From Globeandmail.com.

Please assist The Humane Society of Durham Region in any way you can:

A trust fund has been set up:
Scotiabank, Oshawa Main Branch,
75 King St West, Oshawa Ontario L1H 8W7
Account # 80762 002 01000 13

To make material donations:
Contact the Humane Society directly at: 905-436-5632
or
Contact the City of Oshawa's call centre, SERVICE OSHAWA, at: 905-436-3311

Donations to the Humane Society of Durham Region can be made to 1-888-ONT-SPCA, ext. 323, or online at http://www.humanedurham.com.