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August 28, 2009
Linda Bruno, the owner of the defunct animal sanctuary, pleaded guilty last month to 12 animal cruelty charges, which spared her almost 600 animal cruelty and other charges. Many of the cats were severely ill and had to be humanely euthanized; the remaining cats are being cared for at the Clarion County Pennsylvania SPCA facility.
“Most of the cats that we rescued were under three years of age, so cats left at Tiger Ranch before September 2007 were probably not there when we acted on the search warrant last year,” said George Bengal, Director of Law Enforcement for the Pennsylvania SPCA. "These are mostly young cats that have long lives ahead of them."
The Tiger Ranch cats were voluntarily signed over by Linda Bruno for adoption. They are available at the Clarion County facility, 9562 Route 322 in Shippensville, Pennsylvania beginning on Monday, August 31, 2009. The cost of adoption is $60 and interested adopters should visit the shelter in person. Adoption hours are Monday thru Saturday, 10 AM until 5 PM.
The PSPCA is also reaching out to the animal rescue group community to help us find homes for these cats. “We welcome those groups currently working with the Pennsylvania SPCA as well as any we have not worked with in the past to partner with us on this important, lifesaving work,” said Cosby. Not for profit, 501(c)3 rescue groups wishing to assist with the Tiger Ranch cats should contact Ray Little, rlittle@pspca.org, 215.426.6300, ext. 251.
TIGER RANCH FACT SHEET
Background:
In March 2008, the Pennsylvania SPCA searched the Tiger Ranch Cat Sanctuary in Frazer, Pa., a 29-acre property owned and operated by Linda Bruno (aka Lin Marie) that was billed as a refuge for unwanted and stray cats. Upon entering the property with a warrant obtained from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office and along with animal welfare experts from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Pennsylvania SPCA officials found hundreds of cats living in squalor in multiple buildings, suffering from numerous serious illnesses and disease. The cats' symptoms included upper respiratory conditions, severe muscle wasting, abscesses, dehydration, malnutrition, purulent oral ulcers, eyes completely occluded with dried mucus and other conditions that required immediate medical intervention. Additional felines were found dead on the Tiger Ranch property. Animals were transported to the Pennsylvania SPCA’s Clarion County facility that was re-opened specifically to care for the animals removed from Tiger Ranch, were medical treatment and protection was sought.
Linda Bruno was charged with seven felony charges for tampering with public records, seven misdemeanor forgery charges and three charges of practicing as an unlicensed veterinarian as well as hundreds of counts of animal cruelty. At her July 13, 2009 trial, Bruno pleaded guilty to 12 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and two other counts of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors withdrew more than 600 other charges. Bruno will be sentenced October 5th and could face jail time.
Raid Date: March 13, 2008
Tiger Ranch Owner: Linda Bruno, 47, of Tarentum, PA
Length of Investigation: 6 months
Conditions: 1 house, 5 outbuildings in squalor; insufficient heat; malnutrition; dehydration; rampant disease due to a multitude of viruses and bacteria causing severe upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, septic arthritis, spontaneous abscesses and wounds, eye ulcerations, mouth ulcerations, meningitis, and septic shock
Total Cats Found by the PSPCA: 497 Cats
Total Living Cats: 390 Cats
Total Deceased Cats: 107 Cats
Additional Animals Found by the PSPCA: 8 Dogs, 6 Horses
Age of Cats: Under 3 years of age
Total Cats Available for Adoption: 240
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Tiger Ranch Cats Available for Adoption
Animals seized in the March 13, 2008, humane law enforcement raid on Tiger Ranch in Frazer, PA, have been officially released to the Pennsylvania SPCA, clearing the way for their adoption. “We are committed to finding new homes for each and every animal affected by this case,” said Sue Cosby, Chief Executive Officer of the Pennsylvania SPCA.Linda Bruno, the owner of the defunct animal sanctuary, pleaded guilty last month to 12 animal cruelty charges, which spared her almost 600 animal cruelty and other charges. Many of the cats were severely ill and had to be humanely euthanized; the remaining cats are being cared for at the Clarion County Pennsylvania SPCA facility.
“Most of the cats that we rescued were under three years of age, so cats left at Tiger Ranch before September 2007 were probably not there when we acted on the search warrant last year,” said George Bengal, Director of Law Enforcement for the Pennsylvania SPCA. "These are mostly young cats that have long lives ahead of them."
The Tiger Ranch cats were voluntarily signed over by Linda Bruno for adoption. They are available at the Clarion County facility, 9562 Route 322 in Shippensville, Pennsylvania beginning on Monday, August 31, 2009. The cost of adoption is $60 and interested adopters should visit the shelter in person. Adoption hours are Monday thru Saturday, 10 AM until 5 PM.
The PSPCA is also reaching out to the animal rescue group community to help us find homes for these cats. “We welcome those groups currently working with the Pennsylvania SPCA as well as any we have not worked with in the past to partner with us on this important, lifesaving work,” said Cosby. Not for profit, 501(c)3 rescue groups wishing to assist with the Tiger Ranch cats should contact Ray Little, rlittle@pspca.org, 215.426.6300, ext. 251.
TIGER RANCH FACT SHEET
Background:
In March 2008, the Pennsylvania SPCA searched the Tiger Ranch Cat Sanctuary in Frazer, Pa., a 29-acre property owned and operated by Linda Bruno (aka Lin Marie) that was billed as a refuge for unwanted and stray cats. Upon entering the property with a warrant obtained from the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office and along with animal welfare experts from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Pennsylvania SPCA officials found hundreds of cats living in squalor in multiple buildings, suffering from numerous serious illnesses and disease. The cats' symptoms included upper respiratory conditions, severe muscle wasting, abscesses, dehydration, malnutrition, purulent oral ulcers, eyes completely occluded with dried mucus and other conditions that required immediate medical intervention. Additional felines were found dead on the Tiger Ranch property. Animals were transported to the Pennsylvania SPCA’s Clarion County facility that was re-opened specifically to care for the animals removed from Tiger Ranch, were medical treatment and protection was sought.
Linda Bruno was charged with seven felony charges for tampering with public records, seven misdemeanor forgery charges and three charges of practicing as an unlicensed veterinarian as well as hundreds of counts of animal cruelty. At her July 13, 2009 trial, Bruno pleaded guilty to 12 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and two other counts of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors withdrew more than 600 other charges. Bruno will be sentenced October 5th and could face jail time.
Raid Date: March 13, 2008
Tiger Ranch Owner: Linda Bruno, 47, of Tarentum, PA
Length of Investigation: 6 months
Conditions: 1 house, 5 outbuildings in squalor; insufficient heat; malnutrition; dehydration; rampant disease due to a multitude of viruses and bacteria causing severe upper respiratory infections, pneumonia, septic arthritis, spontaneous abscesses and wounds, eye ulcerations, mouth ulcerations, meningitis, and septic shock
Total Cats Found by the PSPCA: 497 Cats
Total Living Cats: 390 Cats
Total Deceased Cats: 107 Cats
Additional Animals Found by the PSPCA: 8 Dogs, 6 Horses
Age of Cats: Under 3 years of age
Total Cats Available for Adoption: 240
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Posted on August 30, 2009