700 Cats Rescued from Florida Sanctuary

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.”

7Up Employee Fired for Feeding Cats

Worried Neighbors Rescue 90 Cats from Condemned House

Photo credit: Thinkstock

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Emily D.

7:33PM PDT on Sep 6, 2012

The coverage of this story greatly upsets me having donated to the ASPCA several times when I could afford it. They are making Craig Grant the poster boy of animal abuse...when the TRUTH is that ALL of the cats on this santuary would be dead if it wasn't for him. He gave them a chance when their original owners and caretakers starved them, abused them and dumped them somewhere to die. I also would bet money on the fact that not all of the cats the ASPCA "rescued" were put into good loving homes and that many in fact were probably immediately euthanized. Seems to me this was more of a personal issue with the local animal control officer being mad at this cat rescue for some reason. He looked way too happy in the video...as if he "won". The ASPCA didn't have to go in there and make such a huge spectacle of this. Instead they could have used their millions of dollars to help the sanctuary out and let the cats live out their lives in peace and quiet at the place they considered home. I've volunteered at a cat shelter where 300 cats were kept in small or medium size dog crates 24 hours a day...7 days a week....and some of them had been there for years. AND most of the crates had not one, but 2 or 3 cats in the crate. This man is doing the right thing by having the cats be free and not in cages and he should be helped in his efforts...not made out to be evil like the ASPCA and this animal control officer are doing. What do animal control officers do? Put cats in cages and euthanize

September 6
send a green star

Past Member .

8:51PM PDT on Apr 7, 2012

Donors, cat owners to file class action lawsuit against Caboodle Ranch
Suit accuses founder Craig Grant of consumer fraud

Find out more at http://caboodleranch.net/?p=172

April 7
send a green star

Dana J.

10:58AM PDT on Apr 7, 2012

For updates on the Caboodle Ranch case and evidence of cruelty and scheming to defraud visit Caboodle Ranch Animal Cruelty Case Info

Katherine W.

10:16AM PDT on Apr 5, 2012

I hope all the animals were successfully rescued and are now living in safe haven with lots of love and hopes of them getting their forever homes.

Animals make us better humans and we need to be better humans........................