Fire destroys Long Island cat sanctuary
A fire tore through a well-known Long Island animal sanctuary, killing founder Chris Arsenault and as many as 100 rescued cats.
Fox – 5 Ny
A man who ran a sanctuary for rescued and abused cats “died a hero” Monday after a fire broke out at a safe haven he ran for felines in New York State.
The blaze took place Monday morning at Happy Cat Sanctuary in Medford on Long Island, the Suffolk County Police Department reported.
Officials and friends confirmed Chris Arsenault, 65, was killed in the blaze at the single-family home along with “numerous” cats.
“In excess of 100 deceased and living cats were found,” William Doherty, police chief of detectives told reporters during a press conference Monday. At the time, officials were still working to locate the exact number of dead animals.
“Chris died a hero,” said Amanda Rumble, founder of Community Cat Care in Michigan, adding she knew Arsenault through the rescue industry. “Chris was an amazing guy with a heart of gold. He dedicated his life to saving cats. He was in the middle of building an amazing new location to (move) the sanctuary to. The whole situation is absolutely heart wrenching.”
Officers responded to the sanctuary in Medford about 7:15 a.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls, police commissioner Kevin Catalina said.
After the fire was put out, police said they found Arsenault dead in the home as well as a large number of dead cats.
Doherty said the victim was found in the rear of the home on the first floor.
The Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the victim’s official cause of death, Doherty said during a press conference.
The department’s homicide and arson squads detectives are investigating the cause and origin of the blaze, police told USA TODAY.
Christopher J. Mehrman, chief fire marshal for the Town of Brookhaven. told reporters said there were district court actions pending against the cats and sanctuary shelter. He said he could not elaborate due to the active investigation.
Lisa Jaeger, with Jaeger’s Run Animal Rescue Inc., a non-profit organization heading recovery efforts for the surviving cats, said her friend sacrificed his life trying to save all the animals.
“He came out and tried to put the fire out and he went back in and he kept taking cats out until he went back in and he didn’t come out,” Jaeger said in a video posted on the Port Jefferson, New York-based organization’s Facebook page.
“We are securing the area right now to try to save as many cats as we can,” Jaeger said. “We lost the best man on the face of the planet and we’re just going to need everyone’s support now to continue his dream.”
The rescued cats were fed and given water Monday night and Strong Island Animal Rescue League is caring for the animals, Jaeger said.
“We need fosters (ASAP),” Strong Island Animal Rescue League posted on its Facebook page. “Our team is on the ground there trying to find survivors. Please pray for these cats and for Chris. This is a horrific tragedy.”
According to its website, more than 200 cats lived at Happy Cat Sanctuary, some “victims of hoarding situations, shot at, targeted by gangs for use as bait in dog fighting rings, blind cats, cats with FIV, and cats of abusive and neglectful owners.”
The facility offered an indoor and outdoor shelter, as well as areas to roam, scratch, lounge, and climb. Cats and kittens − all spayed or neutered and under vet care − were available for adoption.
According to his bio on Happy Cat Sanctuary’s website, Arsenault “dedicated his life to the rescue and care of hundreds of cats following the 2006 death of his 24-year-old son Eric, who died in a motorcycle crash.
“After this devastating loss, Chris accidentally came across a cat colony of 30 sick kittens,” the bio continues. “He removed the kittens from the colony and nursed them back to health. It was at that point that Chris knew saving cats was his calling, and he opened Happy Cat Sanctuary.”
As of Tuesday morning, an online fundraiser created by Jaeger to help the cats had raised nearly $150,000.
“We have over 200 cats that are still being secured and will need vetting, vaccinating, and rescues to step up and help us secure them,” Jaeger wrote on the page.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
