Mar 14, 2008 5:58 pm US/Eastern
Cat Sanctuary Owner Facing Animal Cruelty Charges
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says a team of workers rescued over 600 cats from the Tiger Ranch Cat Sanctuary
Officials also seized 9 dogs, 6 horses and a goat from the facility
Authorities have charged the owner of the property, Linda Bruno, with 14 count of animal cruelty charges
TARENTUM (KDKA) ―
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Linda Bruno, 45, is facing 14 counts of animal cruelty
KDKA
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A humane worker helps get a cat out of a tree at the Tiger Ranch Animal Sanctuary in Tarentum
KDKA
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Animal welfare workers have been recovering hundreds of animals from the sanctuary
KDKA
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The ASPCA has been at the Frazer Township facility all day
KDKA
Animal welfare workers say they found hundreds of cats and other animals living in deplorable conditions in a raid at an animal sanctuary in Tarentum last night.
Pennsylvania SPCA CEO Howard Nelson says officials raided the "Tiger Ranch Cat Sanctuary" along Miller Drive just after 7pm Thursday and made the disturbing discovery of "750 cats living in horrible condition."
"There were dead cats laying in litter boxes," Nelson added, "cats were running up to us sneezing, falling over from dehydration."
Officials also seized 9 dogs, 6 horses and a goat from the facility.
Nelson says humane officers rushed 200 animals to a veterinary hospital last night, but several animals died before they got there.
According to Nelson, a number of other animals had died long before crews arrived.
"There's burial pits on the property where she -- over time -- has been burying dead cats," and Nelson continued, "...there were freezers full of dead cats."
Animal welfare workers are back at the scene now on what they're calling "one of the largest anti-cruelty raids of recent times"
"We're going to start taking more of the 750 cats off the property and get them the medical help they deserve," Nelson told KDKA.
The SPCA has identified the owner of the property as a woman named Lin Marie who also goes by the name Linda M. Bruno, 45.
Officials have charged Bruno with 14 counts of cruelty to animals.
Tiger Ranch has been billed as a no-cage, no-kill sanctuary for cats; but Nelson says it was anything but. "She describes it as a sanctuary. I describe it as just pure hell."
The investigation is continuing.
Stay with KDKA for the latest developments
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