A deadly fire at Happy Cat Sanctuary on Long Island has resulted in hundreds of cats being unaccounted for, with devastating losses to both the sanctuary and its founder, Chris Arsenault. Arsenault, who had dedicated his life to rescuing cats, tragically died while attempting to extinguish the fire that engulfed his Medford home, where he lived with 300 cats. At least 108 cats were confirmed dead in the blaze, and the toll could rise as rescue efforts continue.
The fire broke out around 7:15 a.m. on Monday at the sanctuary’s residence on Dourland Road. Neighbors reported hearing what they described as an explosion, but Suffolk Police have not yet determined the cause of the fire. Investigations are ongoing as authorities try to piece together what led to the deadly incident.
In the wake of the tragedy, a massive response has been mounted by local animal rescue organizations. Lisa Jaeger, a board member of Happy Cat Sanctuary, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming support from the Long Island community. “We have just been overwhelmed with the amazing human beings here on Long Island who have donated their time, their money,” she said. Jaeger, alongside Strong Island Animal Rescue, is leading efforts to search for the estimated 200 surviving cats.
While the rescue teams work tirelessly to find and save as many of the remaining cats as possible, some have been found badly burned. Frankie Floridia of Strong Island Animal Rescue emphasized the challenging nature of the task, saying, “It’s pretty big in there, it’s their playing field so we have to wait for the right moment to get them.” Many of the injured cats are being treated and cared for in the hope of giving them a second chance.
Donations have poured in from around the region, including a medical van provided by Paws of War to assist with the urgent care needs. “When a tragedy like this occurs, don’t we all have a responsibility to be here to do what we can?” remarked Thomas Ronayne of Paws of War, showing the solidarity of the community during this heartbreaking time.
Some of the cats in need of immediate medical attention have been brought to the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island for triage. Doctors there report a range of injuries, but they note that the cats have been well cared for in the past. “All the cats we have seen so far have just been so sweet and very clearly had been very well taken care of,” said Dr. Andrew Lukasiewicz, who is assisting with their care. The center is doing everything they can to stabilize the animals and eventually find permanent homes for them.
Chris Arsenault, affectionately known as “Long Island cat man,” had been in the process of building a new sanctuary upstate to house even more cats, but rescuers have said it’s not possible to send the injured animals to that location. “Chris died saving animals. That’s what he loved to do. So I’m trying to honor him, to do the best I can to make sure his animals are safe,” said Floridia.
In the long term, the goal is to provide the necessary treatment and care for the surviving cats, and to ensure they remain on Long Island where they can receive proper attention and eventually find new homes. The effort to care for these animals and honor Arsenault’s legacy continues as the community rallies around those affected by the fire.
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