As a Dallas firefighter and paramedic, Paulo Bicahlo is trained and ready to rescue people. But when smoke from a fire at the Plaza Latina mall reached a pet store there Friday, he and his crew jumped in to help what animals they could.

Dallas Animal Services removed 579 dead animals from an exotic pet shop inside Plaza Latina Bazaar, a shopping center in Northwest Dallas, following the extinguishing of a fire on

Dallas Animal Services removed a total of 579 animals, including small birds, chickens, hamsters, two dogs and two 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.

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

More than 500 animals at a Dallas shopping center pet shop were killed when a fire broke out at the structure, fire authorities said this week.

A total of 579 animals died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a shopping center in Dallas, Texas, last week. According to multiple media outlets, the tragic two-alarm fire occurred at the Plaza Latina Bazaar,