Christopher Arsenault entered the burning Happy Cat Sanctuary twice. The first time he made it out. The second time, he did not.
He was 65 years old and had spent 19 years building that shelter in Medford, Long Island, from scratch and out of grief: he founded it in 2006 after his son Eric died in a motorcycle accident. What began as a way to survive mourning became the home of nearly 300 cats that no one else wanted: blind cats, cats sick with FIV, victims of hoarding, animals that had been used as bait in dogfights. The SPCA had personally verified that they were living well.
On January 31, 2025, at 7:15 in the morning, the fire destroyed everything. More than 100 cats died. Around 150 survived. Arsenault’s body was found in a back room. Neighbors suspect the fire was set deliberately. His assistant Lisa Jaeger continues his legacy today. 🕯️
