MADISON COUNTY, Fla. - The owner of Caboodle Ranch admitted at a hearing last week he has 45 cats on his property, which violates the county ordinance of 30. It also violates the court order entered when he reached a plea agreement in his animal neglect case last year.
Caboodle owner Craig Grant told the judge he was moving out of Florida and taking the cats with him.
The judge gave him until Oct. 1 to do so, told him not to collect any more animals, and said there could be unannounced inspections.
Craig Grant cares for 300 cats that would otherwise be put to sleep.
In May 2013, Grant, who's from Ponte Vedra Beach, reached an agreement with prosecutors allowing him to avoid a trial on animal cruelty charges if he pays court costs, receives counseling and complies with the county's limit on the number of domestic animals kept.
Grant owns the animal sanctuary where nearly 700 cats were seized in 2012.
After they were seized, most of the cats were nursed back to health and adopted out at shelters around Jacksonville.