Tiger Ranch Owner Says Sick Cats Planted Before Raid

POSTED: 4:27 pm EDT March 19, 2008
UPDATED: 5:20 pm EDT March 19, 2008

FRAZER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Linda Bruno was charged with several counts of cruelty after hundreds of sick -- and some dead -- cats were found during a raid at her Frazer Township animal compound last week.

But on Wednesday, about 50 supporters of the Tiger Ranch on Miller Drive in Frazer Township rallied around Bruno, who said she stands behind her ranch, even after last week's raid.

Last week, 600 to 750 cats were found on the property, said Howard Nelson, director of the Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which organized the raid.

"I can prove to you with my volunteers and my staff and my friends that we've healed cats with our vets," Bruno said on Wednesday. "We've taken cats out of medical treatment, and they've lived."

"This is one of the best facility sanctuaries I have seen in this country, and there are only one or two others that come up to par to this facility," said Tiger Ranch supporter Chris DeRose.

Team 4 obtained undercover video of the ranch taken before the raid. Many of the cats lay dying in the video, and hundreds were already dead in freezers, according to Team 4 investigative reporter Jim Parsons.

Undercover Video: Dead Cats At Tiger Ranch | More Undercover Video Of Tiger Ranch

The video also showed dying and dead cats all over the property. Also seen is a freezer, which was stuffed to the top with the bodies of dead cats, Parsons reported.

"I looked at the tapes," Bruno said Wednesday. "I feel that there are some plants in there, meaning they moved cats from one area into another out of our medical treatment area."

Bruno said someone moved the sick animals into the population of healthy ones.

"We do have cats die, and that happens," she said. "Not that they die without treatment. Not that they die without food. Food and water bowls are clearly visible. We do have cats die. We pick them up. We put them in a freezer. It's winter. You don't bury cats in the winter.

She said they put the cats in the freezer "like at the vet's office."

The PSPCA responded to Bruno's claims saying they did not plant anything and that video taken in the fall of 2007 backs up their claims to the conditions at the Tiger Ranch.

The undercover video plays in stark contrast to another piece of video that Bruno, who recently changed her name to Lin Marie, allowed a student to shoot for a college documentary last spring. That video showed cats looking healthy and happy at Tiger Ranch.

Watch Documentary Video | Watch Student's Response

A preliminary hearing for Bruno is scheduled for April 3. She remains free on bond.

More than 400 cats were transferred from Tiger Ranch to the Clarion County Humane Society in Shippenville, Pa., where they will be treated by veterinarians and quarantined.

The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which organized the raid, is asking for donations to help with the cats' continuing care.

Monetary donations may be made via the PSPCA Web site; via phone at 215-426-6304, ext. 217; or mail them to Pennsylvania SPCA, 350 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19134.

Donations of supplies may be sent to the Clarion County SPCA, 9562 Route 322, Shippenville, PA 16254. The following supplies are needed:

medium dog cages

clean blankets (new or used)

rabbit cages

clean towels (new or used)

newspaper

hot water bottles

paper French fry boats

disposable paper plates

heating pads (electric or microwavable)

cat food

cat litter