Arlington, Texas Municipal Court Judge Michael Smith has dealt a significant blow to the exotic pet trade. At least to U.S. Global Exotics, Inc., an international wholesaler owned by Jasen and Vanessa Shaw, that buys and sells exotic animals to supply pet stores, dealers, individual purchasers, and zoos.

Following a forfeiture hearing, the judge has found 27,000 (yes, 27,000) animals held in a holding facility in Arlington were cruelly treated within the meaning of Texas Health and Safety Code §821.021, and divested the wholesaler of ownership.

The animals had been seized in a raid following an investigation by an employee working undercover for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

These animals represent 500 different species. The judge found "75-80% of the animals at the facility were ‘wild-caught,' meaning that they were trapped or otherwise captured in the wild and then sold. The balance of the animals came from farming operations that breed them for commercial purposes. The animals seized originally came from several continents."

As to the cruelty, the judge found:

"(1) The facility was seriously understaffed. At the time of the seizure, there were only three employees whose sole job duty was the care of the animals. ...[S]ome of the rooms in which animals were housed did not even have a caretaker assigned to them. In those rooms, the animals' needs had to wait until one of the caretakers assigned to other rooms found time to come and check them. [Witnesses] testified... the number of employees that would be needed to care for this many animals ranged from 20 to 40.

(2) All of the animals were subjected to poor air quality, with most of the witnesses describing a constant stench of death, and with one witness also describing a strong ammonia odor resulting from urine.

(3) Many of the animals were housed in overcrowded conditions, including many types of animals that are solitary by nature and should not be forced into close proximity even with others from their own species. The testimony revealed that this overcrowding causes stress in animals, increases the incidence of fighting, injuries, and cannibalism, and facilitates the transmission of disease.

(4) Many of the animals were unreasonably deprived of basic needs, such as food, water, clean bedding, and heat. In perhaps the worst example, one shipment of 414 iguanas was packaged in small groups in bags, and the bags were then packed in boxes for shipment to Egypt. A problem developed with the purchaser, and the order was eventually canceled. The iguanas were left in the shipping boxes for approximately two weeks, without food or water. When the boxes were opened, approximately 200 of the iguanas had died. While the testimony did not reveal any other situation as dramatic as this, inadequate supplies of food and water, as well as dead animals remaining in areas where live animals were confined, were ongoing, everyday problems that extended across all parts of the facility."

600 dead animals were found during the raid. 

Judge Smith further observed, "[E]vidence received at the hearing indicates that the death rate in the animal trade is generally high. One witness cited a study that indicated that as many as 70% of reptiles die before reaching their ultimate purchaser. The evidence further indicates that deaths in the animal trade can result from any of a number of factors. A high percentage of these animals are already carrying diseases and/or parasites which they had in the wild. Some of these diseases and parasites can be fatal. Many of the animals experience stress, which can result from being captured, from being transported, from temperature changes, or from other factors. This stress can be harmful to the animals' health and can result in death. Additionally, some animals simply stop eating. The evidence showed that cessation from eating can result from stress, from temperature changes, from simply being moved to another cage, and from any number of other factors, including some that cannot be determined. The evidence indicated that sometimes an animal that has stopped eating will eventually start eating again. In other cases, animals never resume eating and simply die. Finally, the treatment the animal received at the hand of the previous owner yesterday may have a very strong bearing on the condition it exhibits today."

Fortunately, none of these 27,000 animals will be returned to the pet trade. The plan is for the City to transfer ownership to Texas SPCA which will place them in sanctuaries, rescues or zoos. It is likely, however, that the Shaws will appeal this ruling.

http://www.animallawcoalition.com/wildlife/article/583 ">For more on the cruelty of the exotic pet trade and the applicable laws .....