Animal dies after being set on fire in Orillia parking lot: OPP

Provincial police are investigating arson after they say an animal was killed in Orillia.

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Police say emergency services were called to a business parking lot at the Colborne Street East and West Street South intersection around 5 p.m. on Monday for a cat on fire.

Police say they will not disclose whether the cat was someone's pet or a stray.

No arrests have been made. Provincial police say the investigation will determine whether arson or animal cruelty charges should be laid in the case.

"Animals are deemed under the law as property. They are not deemed as sentient beings, and when I say sentient, I mean the ability to feel. You have to believe that the cat felt pain, stress, and fear. The people of Ontario need to understand that the people involved need to be held accountable at the highest level of the law," said animal advocate Donna Power.

Area residents and business owners want more to be done to enhance safety at the intersection, including installing city security cameras.

In the past year, the intersection has had two deaths, including a six-year-old girl in January who was struck by a vehicle and a 48-year-old man involved in a motorcycle crash this summer.

"The cops come in here all the time asking us for camera footage, and we're not able to provide that because we don't capture what happens in the parking lot or the intersection," said Rachel Francey, who works in the area.

Meanwhile, police are hopeful witnesses to Monday's incident will come forward.

"The intersection is extremely busy around 5 p.m.," police noted.

Police urge anyone with information, including dash camera or surveillance video of the incident, to contact the OPP's non-emergent line at 1-888-310-1122.

With files from CTV's Alessandra Carneiro