After Man Dies Trying to Save Over 160 Cats from Fire, Nearly $1M Has Been Raised for the Cause He Gave His Life for

Yahoo

11-04-2025

Over 160 cats died following a fire at a Long Island cat sanctuary on March 31, which also killed the property's owner
Multiple organizations have since stepped up to help rescue the remaining missing cats, with dozens soon looking for new homes
A GoFundMe campaign has already raised over $800,000 toward the cause
Dozens of cats have been rescued, and more than 160 have been found dead, following a blaze at a cat sanctuary on Long Island, N.Y. late last month — as rescuers continue to locate the missing animals.
On March 31, following a fire that broke out after 7 a.m. local time, Happy Cat Sanctuary founder Chris Arsenault and several of his cats were found dead at the Medford, New York location, which the 65-year-old owner used as a safe haven for cats since its founding in 2006, per ABC affiliate WABC.
Friends told WABC at the time that Arsenault went back into the home to continue rescuing animals from the fire, which according to CBS News, was found to have an "undetermined" cause, meaning arson was not suspected.
Now, rescuers are updating locals on the current death toll, as a shelter is hoping to help the cats that survived find new, "loving homes."
Related: Cat Feared Dead in L.A. Wildfires Makes Her Way Back to Owner 2 Months Later: 'Never Lose Hope'
Frankie Floridia of Strong Island Animal Rescue League and Robert Misseri of Paws of War revealed in a Facebook video on Monday, April 7 — as reported by CBS News — that 54 additional cats were found dead on the property early this week, bringing the total death toll to over 160 cats.
Three of those cats were owned by Arsenault himself, they added. "Today has been a gruesome day as far as finding out how many more cats were actually in the house once we got some access," Floridia said.
"When we set out this morning, the goal was always to see if there were any injured cats post-fire that went back into the rubble," Misseri added. "Thank God there were no living cats that were injured, but 54 deceased additional cats, over the 100, have been removed. Very difficult for our team here today."
Related: 'Precious' Cat Rescued from L.A. Fires Now Recovering in Shelter: 'His Healing Is Coming Along Beautifully'
On Tuesday, April 8, Strong Island updated its Facebook followers on the rescue efforts, noting that injured cats were "still being rescued" — including one now named Mittens that Arsenault's daughter decided to adopt "on the spot." Two days later, the nonprofit shared in another update that it was continuing to find animals and reiterated its efforts to leave "no one behind."
"We are thankful to all of you who have been with us in spirit on this difficult journey, whether by sending kind words on social media, bringing cards thanking our teams or volunteering to help in some other way," Strong Island wrote. "Your prayers and good wishes have meant more than you can imagine to us, and we remain determined to find every last survivor, in Chris's honor."
The recovery of animals remains "underway," according to a statement Happy Cat shared to its website on Thursday.
Related: Married Volunteer Firefighters Lose Home and 2 of Their Dogs in Dryer Fire
North Shore Animal League America also announced this week that over 50 veterinarians had come together to care for the dozens of surviving cats rescued from the blaze.
The animals have been taken to a "temporary facility, where multiple medical stations were set up to provide exams, vaccinations, testing, deworming, and more — everything they need to begin healing and prepare for adoption," per the shelter.
"Thanks to our incredible partners, we were able to deliver critical supplies, including vaccines, test kits, sedatives, and treatment products. 💉🩺🧴 Together, we showed what's possible when the animal welfare community comes together in a moment of need."
WABC initially reported this week that the more than 180 surviving cats are now up for adoption, with Happy Cat later sharing in a website statement that it has partnered with organizations that are "continuing the work of decompression, socialization, and eventually, adoption."
"If you are interested in adopting or helping a specific cat, we will direct you to the partner organization responsible for their care. Each organization will follow its own established adoption screening procedures."
A GoFundMe campaign for Happy Cat Sanctuary has since raised over $800,000 as of Friday, April 11.
"This has been an incredibly challenging time for all involved," a statement from the Happy Cat board and its volunteers, published Thursday, read.
"The scope of this effort is unlike anything we've ever faced, and we are doing our best to ensure each cat receives the care, respect, and attention they deserve. We thank you for your compassion, your patience, and your ongoing support. Please check this page regularly for verified updates, and understand that while we may not be able to respond to every inquiry immediately, we are doing everything possible to stay organized and focused on the animals in our care."
Read the original article on People