Exotic Animals Crammed In Filthy Cages With No Food, Water Rescued From Pet Shop

Around 150 exotic animals living in deplorable conditions have been rescued from a pet shop in Kentucky after they were found crammed in cages with no adequate food and water, authorities said.

The Burnside Police Department along with the Humane Society of the United States and other local authorities responded to a search and seizure warrant at Tim’s Reptiles and Exotics in Burnside on Wednesday.

The officials were shocked to discover dozens of snakes, lizards, turtles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and fish living in filthy conditions indicating a case of severe neglect. The pet store operator was arrested on 19 counts of animal cruelty, Humane Society of the United States said in a news release.

The animals were found living in shared filthy cages and some even in makeshift enclosures. Most of the animals had no apparent access to food or clean water. Several guinea pigs and turtles were crammed in a single enclosure that was found covered in spider webs.

The authorities also found several distressed Hamsters gnawing frantically on the wire fencing of their enclosures and rabbits in barren cages with wired flooring. The animals were treated on-site and were surrendered to Burnside Police Department.

“I was shocked to see animals living in these conditions,” Chief Mike Hill of Burnside Police Department said. “It is a great relief to all of us here that these animals will have an opportunity to be rehabilitated, thanks to the help from the Humane Society of the United States and everyone involved in making this happen today," he added, according to WTVQ.

The rescued animals are now receiving specialized care from several agencies like Liberty Nature Center, Thoroughbred Exotics, Bourbon County Rescue, Paws 4 the Cause, Lexington Humane Society and KY Fish and Tank Rescue.

“It was deeply disturbing to witness the bleak lives of these animals in this shop of horrors,” said Todd Blevins, Kentucky director for the Humane Society of the United States.

“We are thankful to the Burnside Police Department and all of the organizations involved in getting these animals the care that they desperately need," Blevins added.