Tiger Ranch was raided by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PSPCA) on March 11, 2008. On April 3rd all charges were dropped against Linda “Lin Marie” Bruno on account of insufficient information. But on the morning of April 8th the prosecutors re-filed with over 500 counts of willful neglect.

LCA cares first and foremost about the welfare of the cats. Our official role is clear: to protect the interest of the animals and those who live to defend and protect them. Lin Marie is one of these people.

The PSPCA claimed to have found hundreds of cats’ bodies in freezers and graves- what else is done with bodies at a no-kill sanctuary? The PSPCA complained about the cats’ conditions in the sick ward. However, Tiger Ranch was deemed exemplary by the Butler County Humane Society in 2006 and 2007. Tiger Ranch has also had many inspections and surprise inspections, and none of the humane inspectors reported an issue. Beds were consistently kept clean, as were towels and blankets, the cats had air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter, canned food and water was abundant, and cats wore tags and sunbathed on ledges instead of living in small, confined shelter cages.

The manner in which the PSPCA stepped in to raid and overtake Tiger Ranch is unethical, unconscionable, and unjust. Instead, the PSPCA should establish a system in which they educate, assist, and guide sanctuaries. It is LCA’s opinion that left unchecked, otherwise well meaning organizations, like this particular SPCA, may recklessly and without regard for the damage done, target other sanctuary or rescue facilities.

In the meantime, the PSPCA had secured a deal with the Animal Planet to team up for a Philadelphia based series, and the Animal Planet crew was even present for the Tiger Ranch raid. Furthermore, PSPCA's "informant" Deborah Urmann was a volunteer at Tiger Ranch for 8 years and took her mother's cat to be spayed at Tiger Ranch just days before the raid. LCA believes that if it was such a terrible sanctuary, she most likely would not have taken her mother's cat there for the procedure.

Maybe Tiger Ranch was not as nice as ones living room couch, but it's sure a far cry from where the unwanted cats came from. Lin Marie also offers low cost spay and neuter. Thousands of cats have spayed and neutered at Tiger Ranch. This woman is trying to do some good for the animals in her community and beyond.

Lin Marie and her loyal volunteers have been taking care of homeless animals from 8 neighboring states for years. Many are hard to adopt cats- sick, terminal, injured, and feral- in an area where the chances of these animals surviving without the aid of Lin Marie and her facility is grim. Tiger Ranch is the only place they can go to live out their lives. It's their last stop. LCA stands by her commitment to all the cats she has opened her doors for.

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to view photos of Tiger Ranch

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Support Tiger Ranch!
If you’re in the Pennsylvania area, be there to rally for Lin Marie on the April 28th and April 29th hearings at Allegheny County Courthouse at:
436 Grant Street, Pittsburg, PA 15219