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Starving reptiles, dead rodents found at pet firm
Source: Agencies |
December 17, 2009, Thursday
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A RAID on an American exotic animal delivery company found starving snakes, hundreds of reptiles packed in shipping crates and rodents that had killed and eaten each other.
The Texan city of Arlington and animal welfare groups took inventory on Tuesday of the estimated 20,000 animals and removed them from US Global Exotics during the raid. The Arlington-based company, which advertises that it delivers exotic animals worldwide, did not respond to a telephone message seeking comment.
"Sometimes animals die, but the amount of animals dead far exceeded what you would normally see at any company like this," said Jay Sabatucci, manager of animal services with the city of Arlington.
"Animals were not fed, not fed properly, overcrowded and attacking each other. Some were in an environment not proper for them, such as snakes in a (22 degrees Celsius) room with a lamp over them, which is not enough heat and could cause them to die."
The company's warehouse held mostly reptiles and rodents and also spiders, sloths and hedgehogs, but it was unclear how many were dead, said Maura Davies, a spokeswoman with the SPCA of Texas. Veterinarians were treating the most severely malnourished animals, she said.
Hundreds of rodents were crammed in small containers covered with wire, and many had killed and eaten each other, Davies said. Other animals were kept in feeding troughs, and there were numerous stacked shipping containers still holding turtles and other reptiles that had been sent to the company.
A hearing will be held within 10 days to determine if the animals will be returned to the company or stay in the care of the animal welfare groups, Sabatucci said. The city is considering criminal charges against the owner.
The Texan city of Arlington and animal welfare groups took inventory on Tuesday of the estimated 20,000 animals and removed them from US Global Exotics during the raid. The Arlington-based company, which advertises that it delivers exotic animals worldwide, did not respond to a telephone message seeking comment.
"Sometimes animals die, but the amount of animals dead far exceeded what you would normally see at any company like this," said Jay Sabatucci, manager of animal services with the city of Arlington.
"Animals were not fed, not fed properly, overcrowded and attacking each other. Some were in an environment not proper for them, such as snakes in a (22 degrees Celsius) room with a lamp over them, which is not enough heat and could cause them to die."
The company's warehouse held mostly reptiles and rodents and also spiders, sloths and hedgehogs, but it was unclear how many were dead, said Maura Davies, a spokeswoman with the SPCA of Texas. Veterinarians were treating the most severely malnourished animals, she said.
Hundreds of rodents were crammed in small containers covered with wire, and many had killed and eaten each other, Davies said. Other animals were kept in feeding troughs, and there were numerous stacked shipping containers still holding turtles and other reptiles that had been sent to the company.
A hearing will be held within 10 days to determine if the animals will be returned to the company or stay in the care of the animal welfare groups, Sabatucci said. The city is considering criminal charges against the owner.
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