About 140 cats, three dogs and 60 hamsters were killed when fire raged in a building for homeless animals in eastern Canada on Wednesday, reports reaching Ottawa said.

Victims also included guinea pigs and other small pets in the accident which destroyed the building in Oshawa, Ontario early Wednesday, police said.

By the time fire crews arrived, they were only able to save nine dogs, two cats and a rat. One of the surviving cats has been put on oxygen, while the rat is being cared for by a foster home.

The rescued animals were frightened and freezing and had to be comforted by experts.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire, which caused a damage of about 250,000 Canadian dollars (200, 000 U.S. dollars). The shelter belongs to the Humane Society of Canada, a charity organization to protect homeless animals.

Alison Cross, a spokesperson for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, called the event "devastating" to shelter workers.

"Their life's work is towards animals and helping animals, and unfortunately this tragic fire has destroyed that," she said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2008)