Animal Hoarding

Thanks to a major court victory for the ASPCA this week, the cats rescued from Caboodle Ranch are a big step closer to finding the forever homes they deserve.

In an eight-page order, 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.

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.

“The court’s decision has the best interest of the animals at heart,” says Tim Rickey, Senior Director of the ASPCA's Field Investigations & Response Team. “As the court noted, cats at Caboodle lived in filth; many were sick and in pain.”

Wednesday marked four months since authorities raided Caboodle Ranch in rural Madison County. Caboodle promoted itself as a sanctuary for unwanted felines, but the reality of life on the property was very different.

Today the cats are being housed in a temporary shelter in Jacksonville, receiving the veterinary attention, behavioral enrichment and companionship they deserve. Their road to forever homes has been a long one, but even more good news for the cats is just around the corner.

Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for more great news about these resilient kitties!

It’s been over three months since we helped rescue more than 100 starving and neglected equines from a horse trader’s Arkansas property—and we’re still in the Natural State, devoting countless hours and supplies to care for the animals around the clock.

Before the rescue, the horses lacked sufficient access to food and clean water and suffered from various consequences of neglect, including parasitic infections and painful, overgrown hooves that made it difficult for them to walk. They’ve come a long way since then.

“We’ve been caring for these horses since early December, and with help from the local community and various agencies, we’ve provided the horses with much-needed relief,” says Kyle Held, Midwest Regional Director of ASPCA Field Investigations and Response. “Most of the horses have responded well to veterinary care and socialization, and many of them are ready to be placed in permanent homes.”

This case serves as an example of how the ASPCA often has to commit more funds and resources than initially expected when conducting investigations and raids. What initially was expected to be a month-long process has turned into a much longer, more demanding deployment. We’re still waiting for Arkansas authorities to give us the go-ahead for an adoption event, but we will continue to work tirelessly to care for the equines until we have placed every one.

Fortunately, we aren’t going it alone. Along with key partner the Humane Society of the United States, we’ve received help from organizations like the American Humane Association, Missouri Farriers Association, Code 3, Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Alder Hill Farm Rescue, PetSmart Charities, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Massachusetts SPCA and Williamson County Sheriff's Posse.

Held adds, “The welfare of these horses is our priority and we’re exploring all options, in hopes that we would be able to move forward with an adoption event soon.”

ASPCA animal rescue efforts, especially those that require unexpected resources and funds, are made possible thanks to the support of our members.

On March 10, the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response (FIR) Team members arrived in Fulton County, New York, to assist the Montgomery County SPCA with a critical hoarding intervention. Nearly 100 dogs—including Pit Bulls, Basset Hounds, Bulldogs, Chihuahuas and Lab mixes—were discovered living in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions on a property owned by two women.

Many of the dogs were forced to live in filthy crates, while others were found roaming the home. Food and water were scarce, and many of the animals were clearly malnourished. The dogs were also suffering from a host of ailments, including skin and eye infections. Several also tested positive for heartworm—a condition that takes at least six weeks to treat.

“The owners took in unwanted dogs from across the country, many from the South,” says Jeff Eyre, ASPCA Northeast Regional Director of Field Investigations and Response. “In this case, the women became overwhelmed by the number of dogs in their care—they obviously needed help and voluntarily gave us custody of the animals."

With the generous assistance of local law enforcement, the team placed the animals with various partner animal welfare agencies including the SPCA Serving Erie County, Columbia Greene Humane Society, Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester, Mohawk and Hudson River Humane Society, and the Montgomery County SPCA.

"Thanks to the combined efforts of our partner agencies, these dogs now have a second chance at life," says Eyre.

To learn more about FIR Team interventions, visit our ASPCA Raids and Investigations page.