The 700 cats rescued from Florida’s Caboodle Ranch have been transferred to local authorities following a court order earlier this week.
On Wednesday, June 27, it has been four months since authorities raided Caboodle Ranch in rural Madison County. Caboodle promoted itself as a sanctuary for unwanted felines.
The American Society for Protection Against Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has reported that a judge of Florida’s Third Judicial Circuit transferred ownership of the felines from Caboodle Ranch to local authorities, saying the nearly 700 cats should never return to the rural Florida property.
According to the ASPCA report, the judge wrote that the cats “were not receiving proper and reasonable care while in the custody of Caboodle” and that Caboodle lacked “the resources, ability, skill and (most importantly) willingness to follow expert veterinary advice essential to an operation dedicated to the care of such a large and apparently ever-growing number of animals.”
The judge also prohibited Caboodle from acquiring more animals, ensuring that no more cats fall victim to hoarding there.
Further, the ASPCA reports that the court’s decision has the best interest of the animals at heart. It goes on to say that the cats at Caboodle lived in filth, and many were sick and in pain.
The ASPCA reports that the cats are being housed in a temporary shelter in Jacksonville, receiving the veterinary attention, behavioral enrichment and companionship that they deserve.
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Thank heavens