A Happier New Year?
It’s hard to put into words what everyone has gone through this year. Some words that come to mind right away are “devastation” , “heartbreak”, “soul shattering grief”. And still, those don’t seem to cover the loss and the pain that Craig, staff and supporters…and most of all the caboodle cats, have gone through.
What was once such a beautiful joyous and magical place for homeless cats, is now deserted fields of tall grass and abandoned adorable cat houses. Without recapping everything that happened on that horrid day in Febraury 2012, Caboodle Ranch has been dragged through the mud, it’s reputation all but destroyed and the man that created the safe haven along with it.
Craig has never claimed to be perfect or a saint. But he accomplished what others dream about, for over 11 years. Using his creative mind, his contracting background and skills, he created a slice of Heaven for cats that had no where else to go. And in the recent year and a half, it took just a few folks who didn’t like what he was doing, to make complaints, many times and under many different names to authorities, to have the ranch scrutinized and eventually raided, removing all the beloved caboodles, and shut down.
As a veteran, Craig has never experienced the kind of harsh unjust treatment he did that day. Being dragged at gunpoint, and with a gun to his head, while he carried a sack of cat litter on his shoulder, starting his daily chores at 8am. He was taken in handcuffs like he was notorious criminal and a bail set for him at 250,000.00, the equivalent bond set for sex offenders and murders. And what was he? A man of 64 years, that wanted to save cats that had no where to go. A man who for 11 years, lived happily, left alone with his cats, to live in the woods quietly, peacefully, caring for his little friends. Making sure they were safe, warm (or cool) and always had a full belly.
Without ever coming to the ranch, or even meeting Craig, the Sheriff chose to sign an agreement to let PETA and the ASPCA raid the ranch and take all the cats (and the two dogs), based solely on the lies and fabricated photos and stories of a few “haters”. Destroying one mans dream, the lives of hundreds of once happy content cats and the hopes and dreams of tens of thousands of supporters of the ranch who wholeheartedly believed in what he was accomplishing. Those supporters have increased since that fateful day and Craig rallies on with the legal fight for his reputation, and for the ability to once again help save cats from dying on the streets or being put to sleep merely because they exist.
Recently, the judge ruled in favor of Caboodle Ranch in the ASPCA’s attempt to be “reimbursed” for their expenses involving the raid and “care” of the cats. The ASPCA’s detailed expense statement was well over 1 million dollars. The money they spent “for” caboodle ranch cats, was ALREADY donated money by millions of people who once believed in their gallant efforts to help animals, so it was NOT money that would or could be “reimbursed”. But the main deciding factor was that the ASPCA and the Sheriff’s dept did not follow legal protocol in order to have a case. The expense statement the ASPCA turned in was the most deplorable document anyone could behold. Listing “plumbing”, “carpet cleaning”, “chocolates for the ladies”, “lunch at Panera’s for 100+” (totaling in over 1200.00) or staying at resort hotels and 400 thousand dollars in flights and rental cars and the list of inexcusable actions goes on and on. These people were on a vacation not a mission to help the cats. This statement in full can be viewed at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhEJ5J_n7tIqdHNTNmJfZ1Fwc2RuazR2RHJpVGVqSmc#gid=0
So, where do we stand now? We are awaiting word of when the criminal trial will be held. Yes, they want to destroy what is left of Craig by telling the world he is an animal abuser and should be able to ever have a pet or ever start another sanctuary. We are depleted of finances, which most of you already know. We continue to need financial support for both the legal fees for the trial, for the remaining veterinary bill (they claim Craig never did adequate medical care, but we now have ALL documents showing the tens of thousands of dollars specifically spent for cat medicine, cat vet care etc).
If you can contribute to the veterinary bill, you can send payments directly to:
Dr. John Lewis at Madison Veterinary Clinic
119 Southwest Old US 90 Madison, FL 32340
(850) 973-6936
Otherwise, we ARE still a registered charitable organization, 501 © 3, and you can send your tax deductible donations to”
Caboodle Ranch, Inc
P.O. Box 299
Ponte Vedra Bch, FL 32004
Thank you so very much for standing by our side through this extremely trying time. We are praying for a Happier New Year for everyone and every cat…