Woman gets 27 years' probation for animal cruelty
A Western Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to two years of house arrest and 27 years' probation, and must pay $200,000 restitution, after pleading guilty to animal cruelty in the mistreatment and deaths of hundreds of cats at her rescue facility.
A Western Pennsylvania woman has been sentenced to two years of house arrest and 27 years' probation, and must pay $200,000 restitution, after pleading guilty to animal cruelty in the mistreatment and deaths of hundreds of cats at her rescue facility.
Linda Bruno, 47, of Tarentum, was sentenced by an Allegheny County Court judge yesterday after pleading guilty to 12 misdemeanor animal cruelty charges and two other counts of tampering with evidence. Prosecutors withdrew more than 500 other charges based on the 600 dead, dying, and diseased cats found on her property.
Bruno operated the 28-acre Tiger Ranch, which took in thousands of stray and feral cats from throughout the East Coast until it was raided by the Pennsylvania SPCA in March 2008.
Under terms of the sentencing, Bruno must undergo extensive psychiatric treatment and may not have contact with animals for 27 years. - Amy Worden