An international animal advocacy organization, a McKees Rocks veterinarian, a Somerset County humane agent and about 60 other people rallied yesterday to defend the woman charged with animal cruelty for her operation of the Tiger Ranch cat sanctuary in Frazer.

Tiger Ranch "is one of the best sanctuaries I have ever seen in this country," said Chris DeRose, president of Los Angeles-based Last Chance for Animals.

He said former Butler County Humane Society officer Deborah Urmann asked his group in October to "investigate" Tiger Ranch and its owner, Linda Bruno.

"Our research showed one woman with a small band of volunteers who were helping animals, not hurting them," Mr. DeRose said. "They were doing their best to help the discarded, sick, dying and feral cats" that other shelters would not take.

Ms. Urmann, who had volunteered at Tiger Ranch since August, took her concerns and video footage of sick and dead cats to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. That organization, based in Philadelphia, along with the New York City-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, raided Tiger Ranch last Thursday.

Agents from PSPCA and ASPCA seized about 400 cats, seven Percheron horses, one goat, nine chickens and seven dogs and charged Ms. Bruno, also known as Linn Marie, with multiple counts of animal cruelty, which are misdemeanor offenses. Ms. Bruno was released from jail Sunday after posting $50,000 bond.

Mr. DeRose said Last Chance for Animals will investigate the PSPCA.

Cathyann Megella, owner of McKees Rocks Veterinary Clinic, said she was at Tiger Ranch on many occasions and saw "happy cats and well-cared for horses. It was a great place to be a cat. They were happy. The facility is well-built and well run. I neutered cats for free. The cats are miserable now."

The cats are reportedly being kept in small cages and carriers, Ms. Bruno's supporters say, at a former shelter in Clarion County which is owned by the PSPCA. In January, the agency shut the Clarion County Humane Society because fund-raising efforts did not cover the $168,000 yearly operating expenses.

Elaine Gower, for many years a humane agent in Westmoreland County who now works in Somerset County, said she often took cats to the sanctuary, including 20 she dropped off in June.

"I saw very few things that could be improved," Ms. Gower said. "Tiger Ranch takes cats that other shelters would euthanize."

Animal Friends, which operates a shelter in Ohio Township, yesterday issued a statement saying its humane agents, responding to complaints, have inspected Tiger Ranch in the past and found no violations. In the last inspection -- July 23, 2006 -- all cats were well-cared for and there were no violations.

No local shelters were involved in the investigation that resulted in the arrest of Ms. Bruno.

Yesterday, the PSPCA sent local news media an e-mail from Mike Winikoff, whom it identified as a former investigator with Last Chance for Animals. In the e-mail, Mr. Winikoff was quoted as saying he investigated and found "evidence of horrible suffering at Tiger Ranch." The e-mail said he left Last Chance for Animals when the organization would not take action against Tiger Ranch.