All animal cruelty charges were dropped yesterday against Linda Bruno, operator of the Tiger Ranch cat sanctuary, but charges will be refiled today.

"It's a minor victory in a big war," defense attorney Ron E. Valasek said early yesterday afternoon after District Judge Suzanne Blaschak dismissed 13 counts of animal cruelty resulting from a March 13 raid on the 27-acre facility in Frazer.

Seized in the raid were about 400 cats, seven Percheron horses, a goat, nine chickens and seven dogs. Authorities said many of the animals they found at Tiger Ranch were ill-kept, sick or dying. Agents also found 106 dead cats in a freezer.

The criminal complaints filed by the Allegheny County district attorney's office did not have enough specific information "for Ms. Bruno to know what she is being charged with," Mr. Valasek told the judge.

The Pennsylvania animal cruelty laws that Ms. Bruno is accused of violating cover a wide range of prohibited behavior, including killing, maiming, mutilating or beating animals, as well as depriving animals of necessary food, shelter and veterinary care. Mr. Valasek said each of the charges against Ms. Bruno needs to say exactly what she is accused of doing to each animal.

Judge Blaschak dismissed the charges, saying, "I think the defense needs more information."

Before the charges were dismissed, Assistant District Attorney Deb Jugan had tried to amend the complaint to have Ms. Bruno charged with 491 counts of summary animal cruelty charges and 208 misdemeanor charges. "We are alleging that cats died of dehydration, malnutrition and/or exposure to disease," she said.

After the hearing, the defense attorney said Ms. Bruno "is very happy today but I explained that the district attorney's office will refile and it will be a tough battle."

Mr. Valasek said he will file a motion seeking "the return of personal property" to Ms. Bruno, which in this case is all of the animals seized by humane agents.

Ms. Bruno's supporters said many of the cats she took in were feral cats and terminally ill felines that other shelters would euthanize.

Late yesterday afternoon, the district attorney's office told Mr. Valasek that Ms. Bruno will be arrested today at 10 a.m. at Ms. Blaschak's West Deer office. She will be released on nominal bond. As a condition of that bond she will not be allowed to have contact with animals.

After her first arrest on March 13, Ms. Bruno, 45, who works as a consulting dietitian, spent three nights in the Allegheny County Jail until she could post $50,000 bond.

"We have decided against charging for the dogs," Ms. Jugan said yesterday. "Four of the horses are several hundred pounds underweight."

The Tiger Ranch cats were taken to a Clarion County facility owned by the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.