Barbara Hoffman’s Big Cats Seized

Update: Wild animals rescued from poor living conditions

Posted: Jan 27, 2010 8:02 PMUpdated: Jan 28, 2010 9:17 AM

By Courtney Lane – bio | email
Posted by Ellen Krafve – bio | email

MARION COUNTY, TX (KLTV) – Tuesday, we told you about wild animals discovered in Marion County living in horrific conditions. The District Attorney's Office served Barbara Hoffman with a search and seizure warrant Wednesday and we were right there alongside them.

We arrived in Chopper 7 at the area where all the animals were being kept in filthy, cramped conditions. Once we landed, we searched the perimeter with the Marion County D.A.'s office, discovering foul, filthy conditions.

"I'm an ex-circus superstar," said Hoffman. "This is what we look like when we're not performing."

In the trailer were huge snakes, birds without wings, domestic cats caged and even a wallaby. The stench was so strong, you could hardly breathe.

"If you haven't got a strong stomach you'll probably lose it," said Larry Nance. "I mean, the ammonia is so strong it just burns your nose when you walk in. The filth and the smell and then you look at these cats in these cages. They're not let out to use the restroom at any time."

But Barbara Hoffman claims she has raised and loved them.

"I'm not sure I really want to live anymore because this is ruining my life, my career," said Hoffman.

Her last circus show she says was last year.

"What were y'all doing here?" I asked her.

"Trying to get the sanctuary set up so the children could come out or I could go to the school system," said Hoffman.

"A true case of what we call a hoarder…and with no income coming in I mean I don't know how she's doing it," said Nance.

"She didn't have a USDA license," said William Gleason. "She's essentially stranded in Texas 'cause she can't cross state lines with the animals."

But, now all of these animals are getting a new life, saved from the sickness they're used to living in.

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11891664#

Texas 3063 USDA 58-C-0399 Hoffmann, Barbara of Exotic Endangered Cats Of The World    8110 N Hwy 281 Edinburg 78542