ASPCA® and PetSmart Charities® Save Hundreds in Horrific Florida Cat/Kitten Hoarding Case

Cat Saved from Fla "Sanctuary:" Photo Courtesy ASPCA

PetSmart Charities® (PC in my easier typing case…) and ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) have teamed up in an effort to save the seriously endangered lives of cats and kittens in Madison County, Florida.

The below info is from both a PC press release and the ASPCA’s website:

PC dispatched three Emergency Relief Waggin’® vehicles, each stocked with $80,000 worth of crucial supplies, to the scene of an alleged animal hoarding situation. Hundreds of cats (and two dogs) are in need of emergency assistance and medical care after being discovered in the overcrowded and unsanitary cat sanctuary known as “Caboodle Ranch” in Lee, Florida.

According to ASPCA, “Many of the cats show signs of severe neglect and appear to be suffering from upper respiratory conditions and eye infections, among other medical issues. Responders are also uncovering numerous deceased cats on the property.”

As a result of an investigation spanning more than a year, a search warrant was executed Monday morning for the removal of the animals.

The ASPCA, the lead on the rescue, is collecting additional evidence on the property for the investigation and has a blog story on it.

*** HALLELUJAH – The founder of Caboodle Ranch, a mean-looking Craig Grant has been arrested and multiple animal cruelty charges are pending. Check his ugly mug out man… Thank GOD. This person should be behind bars and beaten up if you ask me. (I know violence does not beget violence but to abuse and neglect a host of helpless animals is something I simply do not stand for and feel there is no excuse for– if you are a regular reader you know my feelings on this. It’s like beating a child — you deserve to be beat back worse…)

According to the sheriff there, the cats were living outside in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions with various medical issues that were left untreated. Many of the cats exhibited… signs of neglect & appear to be suffering from upper respiratory conditions and eye infections, among other medical issues. Several cats were in critical condition.

Responders discovered numerous deceased cats on the property.

“This is a tragic situation—Caboodle Ranch was clearly overwhelmed with hundreds of cats in dire need of medical treatment,” says Tim Rickey, Senior Director of the ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response team. “The sanctuary had no adoption or spay/neuter program in place to manage its… population.”

The 53-foot PetSmart Charities’ Emergency Relief Waggin’ trailers and their 48-tons of cargo departed the PetSmart® Distribution Centers in Newnan, Ga. and Ottawa, Il., bound for the scene, where animal-rescue teams will operate an emergency animal shelter. The vehicles are stocked with crucial supplies, including pet food, wire crates, plastic carriers, litter, litter boxes, bowls, fans, a generator, a battery charger and lights to aid the animal rescuers on scene.

“PetSmart Charities also dispatches a team of specially trained volunteers to the scene,” said Susana Della Maddalena, executive director of PetSmart Charities, Inc. “The volunteers are able to unload supplies and set up the temporary shelter very quickly, enabling on-the-ground rescuers to immediately attend to the animal victims. We are happy to be able to assist in this way to help give these cats a second chance at finding a lifelong, loving home.”

And according to the ASPCA blog post: “We’re at it again… At the request of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office and Madison County Animal Control, the ASPCA is on the ground in Florida managing the rescue of hundreds of cats. The animals were found living in overcrowded and filthy conditions at a non-profit cat sanctuary known as Caboodle Ranch.

“This is the largest number of cats the ASPCA has ever had to remove from one location in the course of an animal cruelty investigation.”

These groups need our help guys – please, even if you can only muster $10, go ahead and donate. PLEASE.

Cases like this are tragic, the ASPCA said on its website; although that’s the common notion really…

*Fortunately, with your support of PetSmart Charities’ Emergency Relief program or/and

*ASPCA’s specific efforts to this case

–The animals will have a second chance

Members of the public can support the PetSmart Charities’ Emergency Relief program by making a donation online, by email at gifts@petsmartcharities.org or via phone at 623-587-2826, to help more pets like these find the loving homes they deserve.