ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY, N.Y. (WWNY/Gray News) – Dozens of dogs are dead at an animal sanctuary in New York after an overnight fire.
According to Canton Fire and Rescue, firefighters were called to a structure fire on State Highway 68 at about 1 a.m. on Thursday.
Crews were able to extinguish the flames but firefighters said the building was already engulfed in flames upon their arrival.
Employees are calling the loss an “unimaginable tragedy” as 44 dogs were killed in the fire.
Sadly, none of the dogs inside survived.
The shelter was a sanctuary for dogs rescued from Asia’s meat market industry and war-torn countries as part of the No Dogs Left Behind organization.
Victoria Murray, the director of the Potsdam Humane Society, said fires are one of the biggest fears of those who shelter animals.
“We have a long list of things that we check every night before we leave the shelter. There are so many fire precautions and temperatures and fire doors … making sure everything’s unplugged and double-checked,” she said.
An investigation into the cause of the fire remains ongoing.
The owner said they are planning to rebuild.
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