TARENTUM, Pa. -- A Frazer Township woman accused of improperly caring for hundreds of cats at her fortress-like sanctuary has pleaded guilty to 13 counts of animal cruelty.

The plea deal was made after two-and-a-half hours of negotiating between attorneys while a jury was being selected for a trial against Linda Bruno.

Bruno, 47, was accused of mistreating hundreds of cats at her 29-acre property known as Tiger Ranch Farm in Tarentum.

VIDEO: Woman Faces Jail Time, Steep Fines

She pleaded guilty to 13 counts of cruelty to animals. Each count carries a maximum of a $5,000 fine and two years in jail. Bruno also pleaded guilty to two counts of tampering with records, each of which carries the same maximum penalty. In all, Bruno faces a maximum of 28 years in prison and $75,000 in fines.

She also must pay $200,000 to the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in restitution for caring for mistreated animals.

The PSPCA said Bruno was incapable of caring properly for at least 750 cats at her 29-acre property known as Tiger Ranch Farm in Tarentum. Many of the animals were found sick, dying or dead.

Channel 11 News spoke with a retired veterinarian who was set to testify against Bruno.

"I had to testify," said retired veterinarian James Davidson. "There were some rabies certificates that were falsified."

However, Davidson made it clear he was testifying only because he had to. "She’s a good woman," he said. "She was obsessed with hatred of euthanasia. She couldn't say no."

Bruno had been facing more than 500 animal cruelty charges before the plea deal.

Bruno was arrested in March 2008 after animal control agents and sheriff's deputies raided the no-kill sanctuary. The raid followed a seven-month undercover investigation during which a volunteer videotaped the operations.

Many were so sick they had to be euthanized after the raid, authorities said.

She will be sentenced Oct. 5 and could face jail time.