Is Tiger Ranch a rustic, rural, "no-kill" cat sanctuary where hundreds of cats, many of them ferals and terminally ill, were given love, treatment and a second chance at life?

Or is the 27-acre Frazer facility a "slow-kill" hellhole that warehoused cats without proper shelter, food and veterinary care, leaving some to die in dirty litter boxes?

The debate was fueled by a March 13 raid by local police and agents from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, based in Philadelphia, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, based in New York City. They confiscated approximately 400 cats as well as dogs, horses and a goat. Tiger Ranch owner Linda Bruno, 45, has been charged with nearly 600 misdemeanor and summary counts of animal cruelty.

Ms. Bruno's preliminary hearing is scheduled for today and tomorrow in the Allegheny County Courthouse, Downtown.

The raid was filmed by a crew from the Animal Planet network's "Animal Cops" show, which has a partnership with PSPCA. Footage from that raid, and others, may air this summer.

The Tiger Ranch saga spotlights deep divisions within the animal protection community.

The ASPCA, founded in 1866, bills itself as "the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere."

The welfare of animals achieved a much higher profile in 1975, when Australian-born philosopher and university professor Peter Singer wrote the book "Animal Liberation." He railed against the treatment of laboratory animals used in experiments and so-called "factory farming," where large numbers of animals are raised for slaughter.

More national and local organizations sprang up in the 1970s, '80s and '90s, many of them with multimillion-dollar budgets.

Some animal groups and animal lovers support Ms. Bruno and others denounce her.

"What you see is a turf war over whose values should prevail in the 'no-kill' debate," said Patti Strand, national director of the National Animal Interest Alliance based in Portland, Ore.

"It's a political war. It's a fight over control. It's about power, money and even TV ratings. At its core it's less about euthanizing pets than it is about who gets to make these end-of-life decisions for pets: their owners, including sanctuaries in this case, or rich, high-profile animal welfare organizations."

The NAIA Web site says its mission includes promoting the welfare of animals and safeguarding "the rights of responsible animal owners." Its membership covers a broad swath, including individual pet owners, farmers, breeders, dog and cat clubs, hunters and rescue groups.

People and organizations have different opinions about when -- or whether -- an animal should be euthanized, said Richard Avanzino, president of Maddie's Fund. "In the animal welfare field, everyone is very passionate and many are critical of others" who do not share their philosophy, he said.

"There is no definitive answer" about when it is time to end an animal's life, Mr. Avanzino said. The bottom line is "always the concern that the animals are treated well and receive the best of care."

Mr. Avanzino was president of the San Francisco SPCA from 1976 to 1999, when the shelter claimed to have the lowest euthanasia rate in the nation. He worked to get that shelter, and the city of San Francisco, to achieve "no-kill" status. When Maddie's Fund was established in 1999, he was hired to lead the Santa Clara, Calif.-based organization, which works to achieve no-kill status in other shelters and cities. The organization boasts of a $300 million fund that is used to award grants to help achieve its goals.

Ms. Bruno is perplexed by the position she finds herself in.

"In 14¹/₂ years of operation, many local humane agents made surprise inspections and there were never any problems. There were never any deficiencies" or charges for violation of Pennsylvania animal cruelty laws, she said.

Ms. Bruno has said she is "amazed by the untruths" being circulated about Tiger Ranch. She describes herself as a Christian who does not believe in euthanasia.

Her comments came April 8 after she was charged with 574 counts of animal cruelty. She was originally charged with 13 counts, and spent three nights in jail until she could post $50,000 bond. She is currently free on nominal bond, but she is not allowed to own animals or have any contact with them.

"I miss my work," she said, referring to her operations at Tiger Ranch. She still works as a consulting nutritionist at health care facilities. She and her supporters note that she took in ferals and treated sick cats that other shelters would turn away or euthanize immediately.

During the raid, 12 cats found on the ranch "were so ill that the veterinarians had to euthanize them at the scene," court papers say.

During the four weeks after the raid, 102 Tiger Ranch cats died or were killed while they were held at a Clarion County shelter owned by PSPCA, said Ron E. Valasek, defense attorney for Ms. Bruno.

Chris DeRose, president of Last Chance for Animals, says Tiger Ranch "is one of the best sanctuaries I have seen in this country." Last fall his group sent an undercover investigator who took pictures that are posted on the group's Web site. The pictures show attractive buildings and fenced cat pastures populated by healthy-looking cats. His Los Angeles-based group, Mr. DeRose says, is investigating PSPCA for its role in the Tiger Ranch raid.

Both NAIA and LCA track cases like the Tiger Ranch raid. Both groups are especially concerned about animals being killed before owners have a chance to fight for their rights -- and their animals -- in court. There have been cases where pet owners sued shelters and agencies and won in court, they say.

ASPCA and PSPCA investigated and raided Tiger Ranch because local humane officers and other local officials would not do anything, said Sandra Monterose, senior director of national outreach for ASPCA. She was there for the raid.

"I saw cats with eyes crusted over. I saw cats lying in litter boxes, dying. They were not receiving proper care," she said. "This is not an issue of philosophy. We are working in Pennsylvania to reduce euthanasia. This [Tiger Ranch raid] is an issue of how you care for animals when they are alive. I do not have an issue with sanctuaries. I do have an issue with warehousing cats."