Texas: Owner of seized big cats charged with animal cruelty

  • February 1, 2010
    • 17 views
    • 0

UPDATE: Owner of exotic animals behind bars
Posted: Jan 28, 2010 7:33 PM EST Updated: Jan 29, 2010 1:11 PM EST

By Courtney Lane
Posted by Ellen Krafve

MARION COUNTY, TX (KLTV) – The owner of those exotic animals seized in Marion County is now behind bars herself. Barbara Hoffman is charged with numerous counts of animal cruelty.

In the meantime, the nearly 100 animals seized from her property Wednesday are recovering in county clinics.

“All the big cats are in climate controlled, secured area,” said Caroline Wedding, with the Marion County Humane Society. “This cold weather coming in this weekend, they’re going to be happy babies…we want their lives to be heaven.”

To free them from the filth, Marion County investigators had to cut through the rusted, corroded locks.

“That’s just proof that these animals have been left out in the weather forever…their feet are sore due to the fact that they’re always on their wet floors, due to standing in their own urine,” said Larry Nance, with the Marion County D.A.’s Office.

Now, their cages are clean. Though a temporary home, Marion County says their behavior is improving instantly.

“They’re all just what I call purring…they just lay around and push their feet against you [in a] real playful mood,” said Nance.

Ironically, their owner, Hoffman, is now also behind bars and under a suicide watch. She used to be an animal trainer with her late husband, but records uncover a trail of trouble since his death.

Before moving to Marion County, Hoffman was kicked out of Edinburg, Texas for the same thing: not registering the wild animals. Investigators say she was also denied a USDA license and began hoarding.

“When you’ve got 50 small animals in a camper trailer that smells like 18 years of rotting urine, you’re not taking care of your animals,” said William Gleason, the Marion County District Attorney.

For some of those smaller, domestic cats, it is already too late. Plagued with diseases, some are being euthanized. But, for most, like Hoffman’s prized monkey, it is a fresh start, and, hopefully, a happy ending.

http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11898358

————

Learn more about big cats and Big Cat Rescue at https://bigcatrescue.org


How much did you like this?

Tags:

NEXT STORY
Madhya Pradesh loses 19 tigers in 13 months
PREV STORY
Villager spills racket beans

  • Show Comments (0)

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

comment *

  • name *

  • email *

  • website *

Tigers Eye Bracelet to Save Tigers
If protecting tigers, lions, and all of the exotic cat species is important to you, then sporting this luxurious tiger’s eye beaded bracelet is a great way!

Visit Big Cat Rescue

The only way to visit the cats is on a guided tour.

tickets

Click the ticket for tour times and to book your visit.

Work with Big Cats!

ZooCollegesmartmockups

Dreaming of a career with wild cats?  Check out ZooCollege.com

Use Amazon Smile

Amazon Smile Big Cat Rescue

A wonderful way to support the cats at no cost to you is to go to your Amazon.com account and sign up for Amazon Smile to have .5% of your purchases donated to Big Cat Rescue.

Cat Quiz
Help Feed Big Cats

One of the best ways to help is through general donations that can be used however it is most needed at the time.To make a general donation just click the Donate Now button below.  This is the best way to give as it has the lowest credit card processing fees and is immediate help for the cats.

Give to Big Cat Rescue

If you prefer to donate via Pay Pal, please use this link: Pay Pal

Review Big Cat Rescue
TripAdvisor

Big Cat Rescue

Shout out to our friends at Directive Group for helping us be brilliant online.

Help End Cub Abuse
GiveCubAbuse

You May Also Like

Lion Cub Shot Dead In Egypt

A lion cub belonging to a suspected criminal was shot dead during a police ...

author_avatar
BCR
0 comments 0 Shares

Denver aquarium gets new Sumatran tiger

DENVER – A 2-year-old Sumatran tiger has joined three other Sumatran tigers on exhibit ...

author_avatar
BCR
0 comments 0 Shares

Pakistani minister visits snow leopard at Bronx Zoo

NEW YORK, Aug 1 (APP) : ….[Pakistan’s Environment Minister] Faisel Saleh Hayat…visited the Bronx ...

author_avatar
BCR
0 comments 0 Shares
Big Cat Rescue
Big Cat Rescue is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, FEID 59-3330495. Florida law requires that all charities soliciting donations disclose their registration number and the percentage of your donation that goes to the cause and the amount that goes to the solicitor. We do not utilize professional solicitors, so 0% of your donation goes to a professional solicitor, 100% goes to Big Cat Rescue. Non-program expenses are funded from tour income, so 100% of your donations go to supporting the cats and stopping the abuse. Charity Navigator Big Cat RescueA COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR BIG CAT RESCUE, A FL-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH 11409), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE OR BY VISITING www.800helpfla.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.