Most of the animals died of smoke inhalation, officials said. They included birds, chickens, hamsters, dogs and cats.

Dallas Fire-Rescue said a total of 579 animals, mostly birds, died. At least a dozen others were rescued and treated in the parking lot.

A huge fire ripped through a pet shop killing hundreds of animals at a market in Thailand. The inferno broke out at the Ploy Pla Tu Pet Mart and burned alive hundreds of pets - including dogs, cats, and several exotic birds - sleeping in their cages in Chiang Rai province on January 6 evening.