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Fire Kills Cats & A Dog In North Lauderdale

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - A North Lauderdale family lost all their pets in a fast-moving fire that swept through their home early Monday morning.

Firefighters were called in at 2 a.m. to the home at 6608 Salem Street. The house was engulfed in flames.

Virginia Fournier, 82, and her daughter Aimee returned to the house late Monday to assess the damage and salvage some of their belongings.

Aimee Fournier collapsed in tears seeing that all nine of her cats and a pit bull named Porkchop died in the blaze.

"A fire was always my worst fear, and now it's come true," said Fournier.

"I heard what I thought was breaking glass. The house was full of smoke," said Fournier's mother.

CLICK HERE To Watch Joan Murray's Report 

The Fourniers said the fire started in the garage.

The state fire marshal is trying to figure out what ignited the fire.

"We smelled smoke. So we went out and as soon as I opened the bedroom door it was just black smoke throughout the whole house, you couldn't even see right in front of you," said tenant Daniel Medeiros. "I ran back in, started looking for animals and I couldn't get any animals, I ran back in one more time to check to see if there was any body in the front bedroom and there was no one in the front bedroom and came back out. My wallet was on the coffee table right inside the door, so I ran back in and grabbed it and came out again."

Virginia Fournier has no insurance.

The family is looking for financial help to start again.

They've set up a site at Gofundme.Com.

Anyone who would like to donate to the family can visit Gofundme.com and search Fournier Family Fire Fund.

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