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Help these guys out!
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by Phobos on May 8, 2005
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Of over 200 reptiles seized 33 are place the rest appear to have been euthanized!
This to a large extent could have been avoided. Myself as well as Ray Goushaw of Herpetological Breeding Research have made numerous phone calls to the HSUS in Vero Beach regarding these animals including offers of taking them in ourselves and placing them for free to qualified reptile keepers and providing them with proper medical care. The Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society was also involved as the members had already stated they would take in any of these animals as well.
The Humane Society has seen fit to instead euthanize these animals as is obvious by their comments.
QUOTE
"They belong in their natural habitat. Having them in captivity for entertainment, we're really opposed to that,"
I was in this shop several times prior to its demise. The animals were not native species for the most part. They were exotics from Chameleons to Ball Pythons and tegus etc, so release was NOT an option.
The Humane Society appears to have ignored the phone calls that both myself and Ray made and our offers to take these animals in and give them proper medical care and placement. Instead they appear to have destroyed many of these animals. 200 plus reptiles and only 33 appear to have survived!
Below are some article clips. The first two are briefs as I can not find the entire articles.
More information to follow
January 1st, 2005
More than 200 store reptiles seized
VERO BEACH -- More than 100 snakes in need of water were recovered from an Old Dixie Highway pet store Thursday during a state investigation into complaints about the shop. The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission received a phone call about a strong stench coming from Vicki and Fred's Reptiles in the 600 block of Old Dixie Highway. They found at least a dozen dead snakes, lizards and scorpions in cages as well as rats roaming freely throughout the store, said Fish and Wildlife
Published on January 29, 2005, Vero Beach Press Journal (FL)
PETA wants shop owners prosecuted
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY -- A national animal rights group is urging State Attorney Bruce Colton to prosecute the owner of a pet store where more than a dozen dead snakes, lizards and scorpions were found last month. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, sent Colton a letter regarding the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation into conditions at Vicki and Fred's Reptiles in the 600 block of Old Dixie Highway. Officers with the agency found the dead
April 20, 2005
VERO BEACH — A local pet store owner entered a not guilty plea this week to charges of animal cruelty, exhibition and sale of wildlife without a permit and improper caging of animals.
Victoria Genaldi, 29, of the 600 block of Fifth Street Southwest, was charged last month following a Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation into conditions at Vicki and Fred's Reptiles.
In December, after receiving complaints from neighboring businesses in the 600 block of Old Dixie, investigators searched the store and found more than 100 snakes in need of water. They also found a dozen dead snakes, lizards and scorpions in cages, as well as freely roaming rats.
Genaldi signed the animals over to Fish and Wildlife, which signed them over to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, said Humane Society field investigator Ilke Daniel.
The Humane Society ended up with 113 snakes, 77 lizards and geckos, two turtles, two frogs, several tarantulas and chameleons and one scorpion.
Each animal received veterinary attention. Some were euthanized, and others died over the following months from disease, Daniel said.
The Humane Society placed about 30 animals with nonprofit, state-registered educational facilities. The local agency does not support adopting the reptiles into homes as pets, said Executive Director Joan Carlson.
"They belong in their natural habitat. Having them in captivity for entertainment, we're really opposed to that," she said.
Genaldi was charged last month with the first-degree misdemeanor charge of animal cruelty, based on allegations she unnecessarily deprived animals of food and water, said Assistant State Attorney Ryan Butler.
The charge carries a possible penalty of one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine, according to state statutes.
A second-degree misdemeanor charge of exhibition and sale of wildlife without a permit carries a possible penalty of 60 days in jail, a $500 fine or both, according to state statutes.
The third count, improper caging of reptiles, alleges Genaldi violated a Fish and Wildlife administrative rule.
Full thread with replies from herpers on e-mails they have recieved back from the Humane society can be viewed at http://thereptileroom.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=2430&st=0
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RE: Help these guys out!
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by emtnurse on May 9, 2005
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Hi Al, this article sounds alot like the pet store in Abingdon, VA that got in trouble for the same stuff. Dead snakes in the parking lot, in the display cages, snake cages with regurgitated food inside with the animal, dead lizards in the display cages also. The store was literally surrounded with officials with automatic weapons. Looked like a drug raid, but it was because of the animals he was selling and the conditions these animals were living in. He was also selling native wildlife (racoons, flying squirrels, etc). I dont know of the outcome, but the store is still open. If you need volunteers to adopt animals, just email me. Bryan
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RE: Help these guys out!
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by LarryDFishel on May 9, 2005
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While this sounds like similar tactics, please note that most "Humane Societies" have nothing to do with the HSUS (Humane Society of the United States), inspite of its misleading name.
Also note that the news articles are very vague about how many animals were put down vs. how many died on their own.
emtnurse,
I'm, not sure I get what you're saying about Old Dixie Hwy, but at least sections of it still exist through much of Florida (parallel to US 1), including just south of me in Homestead...
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RE: Help these guys out!
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by Mustangrde1 on May 9, 2005
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Wow can not beleive i forgot to post that one here. That letter and commentary from the local news paper TCPALM.COM / scripps treasure coast, was posted by me.
Let me clarify a few things.
#1 200 reptiles were confinscated various snakes and lizards. of the 200 confinscated 30 were placed with " educational facilities""if you buy that."
2 from January 3rd 2005 till present day Mysefl and Ray Goushaw had constant communication with the Humane Society of Indian River County in regards to these animals. as listed in the above post.
Now for the juicey stuff for all you law loving herpers out there.
The animals were siezed for numerous reasons and signed over to the Humane Society now here is where it gets interesting.
This is a direct quote from the Humane Society of Indian River county, Please keep it in mind when reading the rest of this you will find it very interesting.
The Humane Society placed about 30 animals with nonprofit, state-registered educational facilities. The local agency does not support adopting the reptiles into homes as pets, said Executive Director Joan Carlson.
"They belong in their natural habitat. Having them in captivity for entertainment, we're really opposed to that," she said.
Now for the Law.
Taken from http://myfwc.com/captive/cwr-35.html Florida Rehabilitation permit, subsection 4 standards of wildlife rehabilitation
(a) Care, disposition, dispersal, or release of wildlife, their carcasses, parts, products or progeny shall be as follows:
1. Wildlife shall be rehabilitated in such a manner as to be able and ready to survive release into the wild. Species of native wildlife that fully recover shall be released into the wild. The release of native wildlife shall occur at or near the point of capture, or onto habitat where such wildlife naturally occur, and which will biologically support the species.
2. Wildlife undergoing rehabilitation or medical treatment shall not be exhibited. Permittees may keep wildlife with permanent physical impairments for educational display under permit in accordance with Section 372.921, F.S., and Rule 68A-6, F.A.C.
3. When wildlife has been diagnosed as "psychologically impaired or imprinted" by an independent rehabilitator and a veterinarian it shall not be considered non-releasable unless such finding is approved by the Commission.
4. Permittees shall place non-releasable wildlife in a properly licensed exhibition, educational, or breeding facility.
5. Wildlife may be transferred or relocated to other licensed rehabilitation facilities at the discretion of the Commission to facilitate alternative treatments and optimum care.
6. When euthanasia of wildlife is necessary, euthanasia shall be humane.
(b) All permanently impaired wildlife kept by the permittee shall be maintained in enclosures that meet or exceed the minimum pen specifications of Rule 68A-6.004, F.A.C., except as otherwise authorized by the Commission. Permittees shall not transfer wildlife to unauthorized individuals without first obtaining prior approval from the Commission.
(c) Unless otherwise authorized by subsection (4) or the permit, Commission approval must be obtained prior to the disposition or dispersal of wildlife, their carcasses, parts, products or progeny thereof, possessed under the provision of this permit.
(d) Birds and other animals that die while in the custody of the permittee shall be completely destroyed or, subject to the approval of the Commission, be offered to a museum, university or other educational facility.
(e) All permittees shall keep a daily log on each animal entering the facility for treatment. The log shall include a record of the animal's treatment, condition, and disposition. Such records shall be subject to inspection by Commission personnel. Permittees shall submit reports of such records to the Commission upon request.
(f) Wildlife shall be cared for at the facility listed in the wildlife rehabilitator permit, except under the following circumstances:
1. The volume of wildlife needing care is beyond the capacity of the permittee's facilities; or
2. When continuous care of wildlife is required; or
3. Insufficient space is available for volunteers to work with the number of wildlife requiring treatment. Under these conditions, volunteer workers may care for specimens off-premise on a temporary basis. Each permittee is authorized to have up to ten (10) volunteers to aid in the off-premise rehabilitation of wildlife. A current listing of the name and address of off-premise volunteers shall be kept by the permittee. Upon submission of biannual permit renewal information to the Commission, permittees shall submit a listing of all off-premise volunteers who have assisted the facility during the permit period. Volunteers keeping migratory birds off-premise shall record their daily work time in a log book on a daily basis. Those volunteers who care for native mammals only are not required to record daily work time. All volunteers are responsible for maintaining a log of the animals cared for off-premise, to include a record of treatment, condition, and disposition. Volunteers shall possess a copy of the rehabilitation permit when temporarily possessing wildlife off-premise. The permittee shall be fully responsible for the volunteer's treatment and possession of the wildlife.
(g) All wildlife shall be kept in accordance with general requirements governing captive wildlife, pens and caging set forth in Rules 68A-6.004, 68A-6.0041 and 68A-6.0023, F.A.C.
(h) Wildlife shall be maintained in humane conditions and within compatible groups, provided with appropriate food, and kept in sanitary manner to provide optimum conditions for recovery. Cages or enclosures housing wildlife shall be constructed so as to prevent escape and protect the caged animal from injury. Such cages or enclosures shall be free of sharp edges, projections, or objects detrimental to the animal(s) safety, or, objects that impede the movement of the animal(s).
(i) Permittees shall not refuse to accept wildlife in need of care, except when:
1. the permittee does not have appropriate space or facilities; or
2. the permittee lacks experience or expertise with the species of wildlife so as to present a danger to the wildlife, the permittee or the public. However, the permittee shall provide referrals to the nearest rehabilitator where appropriate care may be provided
There is much more in the works and thank you to all those who have been writing e-mails and making a voice from the herp community loud and clear on this issue
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RE: Help these guys out!
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by emtnurse on May 10, 2005
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Hey Larry, I did not know that Old Dixie Highway run that far down south. Had no clue how long that stretch of road is. Bryan
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RE: Help these guys out!
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by LarryDFishel on May 10, 2005
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There's actually far more to it than I knew. Amazing what you learn when you're bored...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Highway
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