Tiger Ranch (A Cat Santuary) In Pennsylvania Raided For Neglet On Cats  

Can't help wonder if the owner while labeling herself as a pet rescuer was just a glorified pet hoarder though--I mean 600 cats????

I think this was just a plain case of things getting out of hand for the woman...in some ways it wasn't completely her fault...I'm familiar what goes on in the pet rescue business..many people just plain dump unwanted pets, which is why many pet rescuers don't readily "advertise" themselves like my one pet rescue friend, if she did she be bombarded with pets too.

You are probably right about that. I find it hard to believe that someone could think that they wouldn't get a flood of pets in if they said they were doing pet rescue. But there has to be a better way than one person having to do it all. Isn't that where the groups that do temporary pet placement come in?

Yes many pet rescuers foster pets in their own homes temporarily until they can be placed in permanent homes. I think you already can see how this is a problem as rescuers can only foster so many pets at once without it getting out of hand--also, you have no idea the overwhelming overpopulation of pets there are in general..which is why many pets in the shelter type system are killed almost on a daily basis to make room for more coming in..even the so-called no-kill shelters do wind up euthanizing pets.

I was in contact with my pet rescue friends...they said they were aware of what was going on for awhile...this was a plain case of things getting out of hand for this woman I think...but it could be that in my opinion some so-called "pet rescuers" are glorified pet hoarders instead...and this could be the case here...gives real honest, legit pet rescuers a bad name

That's just the tip of the fur trade iceberg. If you really want to be shocked, have a look at my posting of a few months ago about the Chinese fur trade. The Chinese fur trade uses fur from dogs and cats many of which are skinned while still alive and many of which have been stolen. I don't have the links to the story at the moment, but if you google "Chinese fur trade" I'm sure you'll find out more about it than you ever wanted to know.

http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/

Oh, I'm very aware of the "fur coat" industry that uses cats, and not just in Switzerland either...as jwfarrimond points out...

jwfarrimond..yes I know about this..also there is a thriving business to have cats as "dinner'" as well as many oriental people consider cats as aphrodisiacs to eat...then there is the dog meat industry in the Philippines and many of the dogs are stolen as well....the Humane Society did a story and video of this some months ago

Oh--PS Aussie....these weren't just feral cats that the woman took in either...but mainly pet cats that many people couldn't keep

Since I know many pet rescuers and did a smattering of rescues myself there are many possible answers to this as to the why...many of my pet rescuers friends DO NOT advertise their pet rescue business..why you may ask? Dumpers. The biggest listing of rescuers is with Petfinders.com...but these are the listed pet shelters and rescuers..and unfortunately it's like an open invitation for people to "dump" their unwanted pets at pet rescue places anonymously. Since all pet rescuers are compassionate people, they won't turn away or abandon taking in the pets. That's their nature.
As for why no inspections of her place..that is a very good question...but Tiger Ranch at least DID have a good reputation,which is why fellow pet rescuers often counted on her as well to take in extra cats that they themselves couldn't take in..sort of a word by mouth thing.
Then there is another possibility and unfortunate one...there is a fine line between a genuine pet rescuer who will limit how many pets they can take care off until the pets are adopted (if they are as some are lifers), and a pet hoarder...the mere fact that this woman had over 600 cats seems to indicate she was more a pet hoarder than a genuine pet rescuer--pet rescuers will go out of their way to adopt out pets...a pet hoarder keeps them all no matter how many there are

What a sad, sorry world this can be!

What confuses me is the long investigation time (7 months)...why does it take this long with sophisticated monitoring systems to declare these poor animals are in "terminal" and abusive care? In the meantime, these poor animals are dying. 7 Months?

We just recently had the same thing in Calgary, Alberta...some hundreds of pure-bred Arabian horses, dead, dying, diseased...and once again the authorities (?) took forever to intercept, whilst watching these animals starve to death on their video tapes.

This person (all these perpetrators) need to experience the same lifestyle they have put these innocents thru! Cheers!

whiteheather it could actually be a combo of both....pet hoarding and being greedy...most pet rescuers know when to call it quits and won't accept more pets than they know they can reasonably handle....unfortunately you also have "dumpers" which means if people know the location of some pet rescuer/shelter go and dump unwanted pets at their doorstep anonymously...that is why many of the pet rescuers DON'T advertise their location--the owner of Tiger Ranch did advertise and one could look up the address by just doing a search for it...(the website has since been removed)...I'm not exactly sure if this woman charged for her operation, from the condition of the way things were she probably didn't or didn't charge much--not like the other person I mentioned who charged a small fortune. As for pet hoarding....there had to be a bit of pet hoarding in this case...no reasonable pet rescuer would have had so many cats.....and with pet hoarders it is a psychological disease....and many feel that only THEY can take care of the pets in their care which is why she had so many...it doesn't sound like she willingly adopted out cats on a regular basis otherwise again, she wouldn't have had so many--I've heard of other "sanctuatries" that may have had a hundred or two hundred cats...but 600 as in her case???? Even I can't imagine so many cats

pergammano...yes, that is one angle I can't figure out...that this was investigated into yet they took so long to do anything about it

I agree with both of you. The investigation took way too long. However having had a background in investigations I know you have have to have every detail confirmed before you can take action or you will end up getting sued by a clever lawyer.
My dream is to win millions in the lottery and have a well staffed sanctuary for abused and unwanted animals....I know crazy but I can dream..right!?

No whiteheather..your dream of winning the lottery and setting up a well-staffed animal sanctuary is very admirable...I think a lot of us who love animals would love to do this as well

whiteheather, you and I have the same dream. Maybe one of us will get lucky!

tamzcat wouldn't that be wonderful!

I have no idea how much this particular woman may have charged for taking in cats...the one who did charge a fortune was a different rescuer but the conditions of the cats were just the same unfortunately. I have a pet rescuer friend who has NO WHERE near the amount of cats this woman had....but she spends approximately $3,000 a month on food alone plus money for vet bills...So can you imagine how much it would have cost this woman with 600 cats???

wow way way to much and she shouldnt of had that many catrs to beging with .that sure cost alot to take care of cats!

Yes, I feel sorry for any person who had entrusted their cat(s) to this woman...and then to find out about this...even my pet rescuer friends are disgusted....many of them trusted her as well--it would have been maybe "kinder" to have euthanized the cats in the first place rather than having them starving to death

Too bad we are unable, in this society, to make the punishment fit the crime; Force that person to live in squallid conditions with no food and then provide absolutely no medical aid or any other comfort when she gets sick, until she dies the slow painful death that her actions forced upon so many innocent creatures.

I was actually able to find the video where this woman was interviewed to tell "her" side of it...she plans to fight this thing, get the cats back, since she thinks it's her "Christian" duty to take care of these cats...WTF??? What take care?

I happen to know a lot of pet rescuers and they are so disgusted with this cause it really does give the whole pet rescuing a bad name and reputation--my theory is that this woman had a bit of pet hoarding...pet hoarders believe only they can take care of the animal and no one else..from the sound of it, it doesn't sound like she was genuinely trying to find homes for the cats but wanted to keep them all herself