July 10, 2025
The following is a statement issued by Strong Island Animal Rescue League in response to repeated claims made by Lisa Jaeger and the current leadership of Happy Cat Sanctuary that they fraudulently raised funds and did not turn them over to Happy Cat Sanctuary. The original statement can be found on their Facebook page:
“There has been a lot of misinformation flying around lately, ever since our rescue volunteered to help during the tragic fire that claimed Chris Arsenault’s life.
There isn’t a rule book on how to handle something like this, but we will tell you that slandering the reputation of the people who stood beside you, cried with you, recovered over 50 charred bodies out of a dangerous basement as per your request, and scrubbed the dead, burned skin off of cats faces IS NOT THE WAY.
We have been quiet as other rescuers have put themselves in the line of fire to bring out the truth, all while the focus of those that believe they are “the powers that be” have been sharply aimed at us.
We have blocked people to try to avoid getting into arguments, knowing all too well that we have a ton of information and a sharp tongue. We did NOT want to engage in drama, but our rescue has been trashed over and over and we are tired of sitting by quietly.
We wanted to save cats and honor Chris. We wanted to join a community effort to do the right thing, and it has been turned so ugly.
We have remained quiet for their sake, because what we have that we have not released will expose the truth and blow the roof off of this ENTIRE THING.
We raised $99k for the cats OUR rescue took on from the fire, more cats than just Moonshine and French Fry. For Wicket and Wheezy, too. Two cats we didn’t even have the energy to post regular updates on, as they weren’t in as bad of shape as the main two. Two cats who are still on meds because of the damage from smoke inhalation. (Raina, who we also have, is French Fry’s littermate and has been healthy, not requiring any major medication intervention).
That money has been spent on medical bills for the cats from the fire ONLY. Included in those payments, was our assistance to a rescue organization who took in surviving cats, who was left with a hefty bill and no help (as help was promised), and a technician that was promised “the hedge fund guy” would be paying all medical bills for the cat she offered to help from the fire.
The remaining balance left is for Moonshine. He has surgeries ahead of him and we don’t know the amount we are looking at until the rechecks are complete and the surgeries are scheduled.
Let us end this post by asking anyone with doubt, please ask whose veterinary bills are paid off for the cats that survived the fire.
Ask who has paid the veterinary hospitals who opened their doors, who treated burn patients for weeks, who provided dignity to those who couldn’t fight anymore, who worked overnights, who showed up to work everyday to try to save their lives.
ASK who has an open balance.
Here’s a hint. WE DO NOT.
All of ours have been paid on the date they’ve been posted!
We made a promise to the cats when we raised that money. It was FOR THEM.
We kept that promise.
DID YOU?!?!?!”
Below are a series of invoices that were paid by funds raised by Strong Island Animal Rescue League toward the veterinary care of the cats they rescued following the fire.
