ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. —
Nine dogs died in a fire that destroyed the Rowan Animal Clinic early Sunday morning.
A passerby helped alert the fire department, but firefighters could not get inside because the roof caved in.
Smoke could be seen billowing out of the building on Statesville Boulevard in Salisbury.
SLIDESHOW:Animal shelter destroyed by fire
Investigators said the fire started in an area where animals were kept.
They said it is a major loss for the entire community.
Fire Investigator Deborah Horne described the shelter as a staple of the Rowan County community for several years.
No people were injured in the fire, officials said.
Fire officials have not commented on what caused the fire.
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