Firefighters find missing pets alive days after building collapse in Penetanguishene

Two missing pets lost in the rubble when a building collapsed in Penetanguishene late last week have been found alive and reunited with their owners.

The Town posted on social media that firefighters searching the Main Street demolition site found the cats several days after the building came crashing down.

The fire chief says the felines were scared and hungry; but otherwise, they were found in good condition.

"We thought he was going to get crushed by the rubble or stuff like that," said Rob Linger, whose eight-year-old cat, Thor, was rescued. "That was a miracle for our cat, really a miracle."

"The owners of the cats were overjoyed and grateful to have their beloved pets back," the post stated.

Additionally, the Town says firefighters also retrieved four undamaged family urns belonging to two residents with the help of the excavation operator.

"These little victories remind us of the importance of community and coming together to support one another," the Town noted.

• Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device 
• Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox

The collapse Thursday morning in the town's historic downtown core displaced 14 people and forced the closure of four businesses.

No one was seriously injured.

While the County of Simcoe and its community partners are working to help the tenants impacted by the collapse find temporary shelter, crews are attempting to protect the integrity of the building's surroundings.

Rob Linger holds his cat, Thor, on Wed., Sept. 13, 2023, after the feline was rescued from the rubble when their building collapsed in Penetanguishene, Ont. (CTV News/Mike Arsalides)

"Currently, crews and officials are in the process of temporarily supporting the remaining structures using the process of 'shoring,'" the Town stated, adding the work required to make the remaining building safe for re-entry could take roughly two weeks.

The Town says a section of hazardous debris has since been cleared, allowing the east side and a small portion of the west side of the sidewalks surrounding the area to reopen on Wednesday to allow pedestrian traffic and storefront access.

Structural engineers remain at the site, trying to determine what caused the more than 100-year-old building to crash to the ground.