On Dec. 7, a basement fire at Happy Days Animal Sanctuary in Fort Erie, Ontario, killed 31 cats from smoke inhalation and sent 12 others to a nearby emergency veterinary clinic. Volunteers who first noticed smoke attempted to vent the building, but a closed basement door trapped smoke and increased fatalities. Firefighters quickly extinguished the relatively small blaze, which investigators say likely began in a utility room due to mechanical failure. The sanctuary is focused on treating survivors, has launched fundraising efforts, and estimates repairs could cost around $200,000.
‘Unimaginable Tragedy’: 31 Cats Killed in Fort Erie Sanctuary Fire — Survivors Receiving Care, Community Steps Up
GoFundMe; Fort Erie Fire Department/Facebook
On Dec. 7, a basement fire at Happy Days Animal Sanctuary in Fort Erie, Ontario, resulted in the deaths of 31 cats from smoke inhalation and left 12 others in need of urgent veterinary treatment. Volunteers who first noticed smoke attempted to vent the building and help animals escape, but many cats were trapped in the basement where smoke concentrated.
What happened
Around 12:30 p.m., a volunteer at the rescue smelled and then saw smoke. Volunteers immediately investigated and began breaking windows to let smoke escape and give animals a chance to flee. The sanctuary's basement door was closed when the fire began; that door prevented flames from spreading through the rest of the building but also confined smoke in the lower level, leading to the high number of fatalities despite the blaze itself being small.
Fort Erie Fire Department crews, led by Fire Chief Mark Schmitt, arrived approximately 15 minutes later—around 12:45 p.m.—and quickly extinguished the fire. One volunteer sustained minor injuries during the rescue efforts.
Cause and aftermath
GoFundMeSurviving cats from the Happy Days Sanctuary fire
Schmitt reported investigators believe the fire started in a utility room and was most likely caused by a mechanical failure. Although the flames were limited, concentrated smoke in the basement proved deadly; 31 cats succumbed to smoke inhalation and 12 survivors were transported to an emergency veterinary clinic in nearby Stoney Creek for treatment.
“We are truly heartbroken ... This is an unimaginable tragedy for all of us,” owner Anne Swinson told CBC Hamilton.
The sanctuary has been posting updates on social media about recovering animals. Two named survivors, Zoey and Willow, were found hiding—Zoey under a basement sofa and Willow under a recliner upstairs—and have received medical attention while continuing to recover.
Support and next steps
Happy Days Sanctuary is focused on caring for the surviving cats and supporting staff and volunteers through the emotional toll. The rescue is accepting donations via e-transfer to info@hdsanctuary.org and through CanadaHelps. A GoFundMe launched by the owner’s grandson, Shane Swinson, has raised more than $16,000 to date. The sanctuary estimates repair costs could approach $200,000 but says its immediate priority is medical care and comfort for the survivors.
The community response has been strong, with offers of financial support and assistance as the sanctuary begins cleanup and repairs. Officials continue to investigate the exact cause while the sanctuary works through the operational and emotional aftermath of the loss.
