Founder Of Happy Cat Sanctuary Dies In Fire; 100+ Felines Found: PD

MEDFORD, NY — Police have identified the man killed in a Medford house fire Monday morning as Christopher Arsenault, 65.

Arsenault was the founder of the not-for-profit Happy Cat Sanctuary. Suffolk County officials said Monday that in excess of 100 cats were found either deceased or still alive; it has not yet been determined how many cats were actually found deceased.

Previous reports indicated that up to 300 cats may have lived at the sanctuary, both inside and out.

The house was fully engulfed in flames, officials said, adding that "a good number of cats" that lived in outside structures did survive.

Arsenault's body was found in the rear of the house on the first floor; it was not immediately clear if he had been outside and then tried to re-enter after the fire broke out, police said.

Police were also not able to say if the fire was caused by an explosion; they said they will speak to neighbors and review 911 calls. As it stands, arson and homicide units are trying to determine the cause of the deadly blaze — and no conclusions can yet be drawn, as the investigation is in its early stages.

On social media, the heartbreak resonated as many mourned Arsenault, who founded the sanctuary after the death of his son. He had been ready to move the cats upstate to a larger property, police confirmed.

Animal rescue organizations have said that cat carriers are needed to save animals who lived at the reported sanctuary as advocates scramble to find new homes and shelters for surviving felines.

The Town of Brookhaven's animal control division and Suffolk County SPCA were onhand to help, police said. Police added that "numerous" district court actions were pending in regard to issues concerning cats at the residential location.

According to Suffolk County police, homicide squad and arson section detectives are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, which broke out at about 7:15 a.m. on Dourland Road.

Sixth Precinct officers responded to 12 Dourland Road at approximately 7:15 a.m. after multiple 911
callers reported a fire at the location.