Nearly 100 rally in support of Tiger Ranch owner

The opinions are passionate on either side, but so conflicting that it's hard to believe that Tiger Ranch's supporters and detractors are talking about the same place.

It's not just pet lovers, but veterinarians and animal protection organizations that find themselves with views that are polar opposites.

Animal rights activist Chris DeRose was contacted last October to investigate the Tiger Ranch cat sanctuary in Frazer. He refused the invitation from concerned pet owners.

In fact, DeRose, president of Los Angeles-based Last Chance for Animals, was among the almost 100 Tiger Ranch supporters who showed up Wednesday at a rally in support of Bruno, who faces charges of animal cruelty.

Bruno's supporters dodged raindrops Wednesday afternoon outside District Justice Suzanne Blaschak's office, where she had been scheduled to appear for a court hearing. The hearing was postponed until April 3.

In a raid at Tiger Ranch last Thursday spearheaded by the Pennsylvania branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, hundreds of cats, some sick, dying or feral, and more than a ton of cat food and supplies were seized.

DeRose doesn't understand why.

"In October of 2007, I was asked to do an investigation of Tiger Ranch," DeRose said. "I swear by Tiger Ranch and was unable to do it. I refused based on previous records.

"Here is one lone woman with a band of volunteers," he said. "I am so impressed with her, yet bothered and hurt by the investigation and the PSPCA and the conclusion they have made.

"We want the animals returned and the witch hunt stopped."

Investigator: 'Horrible suffering'

While Bruno had her army of supporters, Mike Winikoff, a former undercover investigator for DeRose's Last Chance for Animals, said in a written statement that he found "horrible suffering" among the cats at Tiger Ranch.

"I was working for Last Chance for Animals when the initial complaints about Tiger Ranch came in to the office," Winikoff said in the statement. He conducted a preliminary investigation.

"I concluded that there was evidence of horrible suffering at Tiger Ranch, and requested authorization to conduct a more thorough investigation. My request was approved, but then abruptly withdrawn.

"I've never fully understood why LCA pulled me off of that investigation," he said. "After I left LCA, I continued to look into Tiger Ranch and became more and more convinced that the allegations were valid.

"As a 20-year veteran of the animal rights movement, including a decade as an undercover investigator, I remain convinced that Tiger Ranch deserved to be closed and investigated for animal cruelty.

"I believe that our mission as animal advocates is to prevent and alleviate suffering wherever it occurs, even when the suffering is created by those who may be trying to do good things for animals.

"I do not believe that good intentions absolve us of the consequences of our actions. That applies both to Tiger Ranch and the people who dumped cats there without fully investigating their likely fate."

Differing accounts, opinions

With Bruno at his side, DeRose spoke of the undercover video that was taken by former Butler County humane officer Deborah Urmann. "In a seven-month investigation, there was only an hour-and-a-half of video," he said. "Tiger Ranch is one of the best shelters. and we need to debunk all nonsense that has been going on."

Buffalo Township veterinarian Dr. Becky Morrow, one of the four people involved in the undercover sting, said the investigators are only able to release a hour-and-a-half of video at present.

"We have 350 pages of evidence and surveillance video," Morrow said. "The hour-and-a-half of video is public record under the (search) warrant. I can't begin to add up the amount of video we have."

DeRose claimed that SPCA Chief Executive Officer Howard Nelson spat on Bruno Thursday night while the raid was taking place and that sick cats were euthanized in front of her.

Lisa Rodgers, director of outreach for the SPCA, denounced all of DeRose's allegations.

"No, absolutely untrue," Rodgers said. "The sheriff was present and tape-recorded everything. Howard Nelson did not spit on Ms. Bruno."

Rodgers said the American Society For The Protection of Cruelty to Animals had its forensic vehicle at the sanctuary for the specific reason of having an area to euthanize sick cats.

The ASPCA vehicle was the same one used at a house owned by then-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, in Virginia, when extensive facilities used for dog fighting were discovered.

DeRose said he is confused as to what motivated the SPCA to raid the farm.

"This is the best sanctuary I have ever seen," he said. "But now it is rainy and dreary, and they are killing the animals now as we speak."

Several people at the rally spoke on behalf of Bruno, many shedding tears for how grateful they are for her help in saving their animals.

Darlene Farmer, of West Deer, said Bruno helped her two dogs, a 3-pound Yorkshire terrier named Nugget and a 4-pound Chihuahua named Peanut, when a man broke into her house and almost killed the dogs.

"It was after 5 p.m. and the vet was closed," she said. "I called 'Lin' and she worked on them until 2:30 a.m. It was because of her that my little dogs survived and she never asked for anything."

Linda Bruno, whose middle name is Marie, goes by Lin Marie in her work with Tiger Ranch.

Vets differ

Dr. Cathy Meggla, a McKees Rocks veterinarian, said she sent cats to Tiger Ranch, but only after she inspected the facility.

"The cats there are healthier than any other cats I have seen," Meggla said. "They are happy cats."

But the SPCA's Rodgers said since 406 live cats have been transported from the farm to a makeshift animal hospital in Shippenville, 65 have either died on their own or had to be euthanized because of poor health.

"In my 10 years as a vet, I have rarely seen the rare strains of viruses that appear infrequently in the United States that I did there," said Morrow, the Buffalo Township veterinarian who assisted in the SPCA investigation.

So far, Bruno is charged with 14 counts of cruelty to animals, but the SPCA said it expects to charge Bruno with one count of animal cruelty per dead animal.

Bruno: I gave a chance at life

Bruno addressed the crowd of supporters who know her as Lin Marie.

"Hi. I am Lin and the steward of Tiger Ranch," she said. "I have been running Tiger Ranch for 14 1/2 years and, no, I am not perfect. But I have given those cats a chance at life.

"I provide love and life for them. I kiss and hug those cats every day. Do they die? Yes, and so do people," Bruno said. "I have names for every cat and have cared for every cat. I took in what they would call 'the misfits' and I want them back. I appreciate and love you and will help you in return if I can."

At the end of the rally, it was clear that one woman standing at the back of the magistrate's parking lot had not come to sing Tiger Ranch's praises. Kathy Wright of Saxonburg volunteered at the makeshift animal hospital Sunday, and said "she is not the same as when she left her home Sunday morning."

"Those cats are so sick," she said. "I have never seen such defenseless, suffering creatures."

Wright was threatened by supporters.

West Deer police broke up the argument.

Bruno never batted an eyelash at Wright's comments.

"That is why we live in America," she said. "It's OK to have an opinion. We have 100 supporters verses the one against."

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