2 cats, dog killed in animal hospital fire

BARNSTABLE, Mass. - A veterinarian says two cats and a dog died in an explosion and fire that tore through a Massachusetts animal hospital.

Head vet Scott Munson of the Cape Cod Animal Hospital in Barnstable told the Cape Cod Times that a dozen dogs were rescued, but one dog remains missing.

Munson and other rescuers broke the kennel door with a cinder block so the animals could run out. Those animals were taken to another hospital.

There were no reports of injuries to people.

Fire officials said the Monday night fire started in the main veterinary offices but still don’t have an exact cause.

“We could smell natural gas and the fire was probably 50 to 75 percent of the main building was already involved when we already got here and it spread,“ said Chief John Farrington of the Centerville-Osterville Fire Department.

The blaze came 20 minutes after area residents reported their lights had dimmed. Neighbors reported hearing an explosion.

The state fire marshal is investigating.