A fire at Happy Cat animal sanctuary in Medford resulted in the death of owner Christopher Arsenault and more than 100 cats. Investigators suspect arson as they probe the cause of the blaze, which consumed the sanctuary by 8:35 a.m. Arsenault, 65, was reportedly attempting to rescue the animals when he perished. Activist John DeBacker expressed concerns regarding harassment Arsenault faced possibly linking to the fire. The sanctuary, which had housed around 300 cats, was a non-profit rescue operation established after Arsenault's son's tragic death.
William Doherty, the Suffolk County police chief of detectives, stated, "It's too early in the investigation to determine any cause" regarding the suspicious fire at the animal sanctuary.
John DeBacker, a Long Island animal rights activist, commented, "Despite being harassed for months, he continued to fight for the cats," suggesting a possible motive behind the fire.
Roy Gross from the Suffolk SPCA described the event as "a horrible situation," emphasizing the tragic loss of lives, including that of sanctuary owner Christopher Arsenault.
The Happy Cat animal sanctuary was a nonprofit "safe haven for cats in need," started by Arsenault in 2006 after a personal tragedy.
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