Nearly 700 cats were seized in Lee, Fla. at the end of February after an undercover investigation by PETA exposed the deplorable conditions at the Caboodle Ranch, a cat sanctuary famous for its tiny town of cat houses.
The ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response team has been assisting the Madison County Animal Control and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office with the removal of cats from the sanctuary after a search warrant was executed.
“The cats were found living in overcrowded and filthy conditions. Many are exhibiting signs of severe neglect and appear to be suffering from upper respiratory conditions and eye infections, among a host of other medical issues. Some sick cats were housed together but not separated by their afflictions, allowing for the unfettered transmission of various diseases. Responders have found numerous deceased and decomposing cats on the property, as well as multiple shallow grave sites,” according to the ASPCA.
More than 100 staff and volunteers from the ASPCA and individuals from 11 other organizations helped remove the cats and bring them to a temporary shelter in Jacksonville where they’re being cared for.
The ranch, owned by Craig Grant, is updating its website and painting the picture that the cats were well cared for, receiving veterinary care and that footage from the investigation was taken out of context, but numerous eyewitness reports and comments indicate that problems at the ranch were ongoing and that Grant was defensive and refused help of any kind.
Grant was arrested and charged with one count of felony animal cruelty, three counts of cruelty to animals and one count of scheming to defraud.
“It’s heartbreaking for the animal and it’s heartbreaking for the person who took that animal there thinking they were providing the best opportunity for their pet,” said ASPCA field investigator Tim Rickey. “I’m glad that we were able to get in and save these animals before many others suffered the same fate.”
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The ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response team has been assisting the Madison County Animal Control and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office with the removal of cats from the sanctuary after a search warrant was executed.
“The cats were found living in overcrowded and filthy conditions. Many are exhibiting signs of severe neglect and appear to be suffering from upper respiratory conditions and eye infections, among a host of other medical issues. Some sick cats were housed together but not separated by their afflictions, allowing for the unfettered transmission of various diseases. Responders have found numerous deceased and decomposing cats on the property, as well as multiple shallow grave sites,” according to the ASPCA.
More than 100 staff and volunteers from the ASPCA and individuals from 11 other organizations helped remove the cats and bring them to a temporary shelter in Jacksonville where they’re being cared for.
The ranch, owned by Craig Grant, is updating its website and painting the picture that the cats were well cared for, receiving veterinary care and that footage from the investigation was taken out of context, but numerous eyewitness reports and comments indicate that problems at the ranch were ongoing and that Grant was defensive and refused help of any kind.
Grant was arrested and charged with one count of felony animal cruelty, three counts of cruelty to animals and one count of scheming to defraud.
“It’s heartbreaking for the animal and it’s heartbreaking for the person who took that animal there thinking they were providing the best opportunity for their pet,” said ASPCA field investigator Tim Rickey. “I’m glad that we were able to get in and save these animals before many others suffered the same fate.”
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VIDEO
The ASPCA is managing the removal and care of hundreds of cats from an overwhelmed cat sanctuary known as Caboodle Ranch in northern Florida. This is the largest number of cats the ASPCA has ever seized during an animal cruelty investigation. The founder and operator of Caboodle Ranch has been arrested and charged with one count of felony animal cruelty, three counts of cruelty to animals and one count of scheming to defraud.
I HOPE THEY GET THE BOOK THROWN AT THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The raid was a tragedy. I've been there, I've volunteered there, and was going back on March 1. The ranch was not overcrowded and filthy. I've never seen a sanctuary with so many happy, healthy cats. The vet was there a few days before the raid. This was a PR event engineered by PeTA which was trying to influence the FARA in the Florida legislature. The cats that had URIs were in the sick ward, and apparently were taken out of their cages by the undercover PeTA spy. the 3-legged cat does fine, and of course, you don't make it run away from you so you can have a dramatic video. This raid was a disgraceful act by ASPCA, who had never gone on site to see if the accusations were true. PeTA is disgusting, and I know of about 30,000 people who are not donating any more. This was an established, internationally known sanctuary and I, as a volunteer, am getting regular calls and emails from all over the US and the world from people concerned about the cats in the warehouse. Ask the Sheriff about the 6000 calls he has gotten from China and Japan. Caboodle fans are working very hard to right this awful wrong. Imagine what the life would have been for unwanted, unloved cats. At the ranch they had food, water, shelter, and vet care. This was a big mistake on the ASPCA's part. They didn't have to destroy, they could have helped.
Follow the Caboodle Ranch legal developments by visiting http://www.caboodleranch.com