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A tragic fire at a Long Island animal sanctuary has left an entire community in mourning. Early Monday morning, a blaze tore through the Happy Cat animal sanctuary in Medford, claiming the life of its founder and more than 100 cats.
Police responded to the fire around 7:15 a.m. By the time the flames were extinguished at 8:35 a.m., the sanctuary was reduced to rubble. Suffolk County police confirmed that 65-year-old Christopher Arsenault, the man behind the sanctuary, was killed in the fire—believed to have perished while trying to save the animals under his care.
The sanctuary was home to at least 300 cats. Officials say at least a third are believed to have died in the fire, though efforts are ongoing to rescue, treat, and rehome the survivors.
Detectives from both the homicide and arson squads are actively investigating the cause of the fire. While it’s too early to determine exactly how it started, the circumstances have raised suspicions. Suffolk County Police Chief of Detectives William Doherty stated that it was too soon to confirm the cause, but the investigation remains open.
Long Island animal rights activist John DeBacker posted on Facebook that Arsenault had been harassed in the months leading up to the fire. He speculated that the fire could be related, encouraging followers to preserve any online interactions that may be relevant to a potential arson investigation. DeBacker declined to comment further when contacted by the media.
Suffolk County SPCA Chief Roy Gross described the loss as a devastating blow to both the animal rescue community and those who knew Arsenault personally.
It’s a horrible situation, Gross said. Truly tragic.
According to records, Happy Cat Inc. was a nonprofit created to provide a safe haven for cats in need. Arsenault began the sanctuary in 2006 after losing his son in a motorcycle accident. Friends say it became his life’s mission, and he was working on relocating the sanctuary upstate to expand the care he could offer.
On the day of the fire, multiple rescue groups and volunteers rushed to the site to help. The remaining cats were being rounded up, given medical care, and prepared for new placements. Several organizations stepped in immediately to ensure that the animals received food, shelter, and vet attention.
While investigators continue to search for answers, Arsenault is being remembered as a man who devoted his life to caring for animals, especially those who had nowhere else to go. His loss, along with the lives of so many cats, has shaken the community.
Those who knew Arsenault described him as kind, passionate, and deeply dedicated to every animal he rescued. In the face of adversity, he continued to fight for the lives that depended on him.
His legacy lives on in the hundreds of animals he saved—and in the hearts of those who continue his mission.
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