HSUS Slaughters 170 reptiles

[bchildress]

Im not sure if this has been seen by everyone so I am posting it on All reptile forums!

Of over 200 reptiles seized 33 are place the rest appear to have been euthanized!

This to a large extent could have been avoided. Scott Bice 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

[Tim and Julie B]

We need to figure out there email address. Then we can all voice our opinions. That is truly sick and wrong. Humane society acting just as bad as the offender. They clearly no nothing about reptiles and should not be allowed to care for even an ant farm! Why is it that humane society think it is better to kill animals then find them a home especially if they are not cute and furry.

[bchildress]

This is a letter that Can be copy and Pasted into email to the FWC if anyone wants


To whom it may concern.

In December of 2004 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 investigator Steve Grigg, according to the Fort Pierce Tribune.

The reptiles were then to my understanding placed with the Humane Society of Indian River County. Members to my understanding of the“ Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society” were told the animals were under veterinary care and quarantine.

Members of the Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society offered to give them proper medical care and place them at no cost when they were recovered with members Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society to live out there lives in the highest quality of care possible and to be used in educational lectures and shows as many of the members do these events. It is also my understanding many of the members of the Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society are licensed reptiles keepers with the states Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and as such would make ideal homes for these reptiles.

No phone calls were ever made to members of the Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society regarding these animals final disposition on March 20th 2005 of being euthanized and thirty others being adopted out.

I find the actions of the humane society of Indian River County deplorable and potentially cruelty to animals in the fact they destroyed approximately 157 reptiles when the Humane Society of Indian River County had full and prior knowledge that a entire herpetological society was ready and able to take in all the animals thus not requiring them to be euthanized.

As the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was involved in the original action and allowed the Humane Society of Indian River County to take in these animals to be rehabilitated/ rescued I must ask that the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conduct an investigation in to the actions of the Humane Society of Indian River County.

A direct quote from Tcpalm.com from the Director of the Humane Society of Indian River County, forces me to believe there intent was to never try and place these animals in proper homes and it was her direct intent to have them destroyed.

QUOTE: 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. End Quote.

Again I must reiterate that many members of the Saint Lucie Regional Herpetological Society do these lectures and educational venues from the Ecological Center in Port Saint Lucie to Programs in our community school and would have taken in all the reptiles.

I believe it is not the policy of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to allow animals to be placed with an organization that will willingly allow wanted animals to be destroyed.


Sincerely


E-MAIL LIST MADE EASY

Vero Beach HSUS e-mails contacts

bdingle@hsvb.org

cellis@hsvb.org

allforpaws@aol.com

Indian River County Commisioners

Wesley S. Davis
Telephone: (772) 567-8000, extension 1490
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3365
E-mail: wdavis@ircgov.com

Arthur R. Neuberger - Vice Chairman
Telephone: (772) 567-8000, extension 1490
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3365
E-mail: neuberger@ircgov.com

Gary C. Wheeler
Telephone: (772) 567-8000, extension 1490
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3365
E-mail: gwheeler@ircgov.com

Thomas S. Lowther, Chairman
Telephone: (772) 567-8000, extension 1490
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3365
E-mail: tlowther@ircgov.com

Sandra L. Bowden
Telephone: (772) 567-8000, extension 1490
1840 25th Street
Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3365
E-mail: sbowden@ircgov.com


Florida Fish and Game Conservation Commission e-mail contact numbers

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Mail the Commissioners.
Commissioners@MyFWC.com

Execuutive Director
Ken Haddad
kenneth.haddad@fwc.state.fl.us

Col. Julie Jones
Law Enforcement Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
julie.jones@fwc.state.fl.us

Humane Society of the United States Public relations contact e-mail
http://www.hsus.org/contact_us/public_relations.html

Letters to the editor of the local news
editorial@stuartnews.com

Legue of Florida Herp Societies
RShe32944@aol.com

[Linds]

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/showt...threadid=68735

[bchildress]

Sweet I didnt know if Scott had been here or Not I was just tring to get the word out to places maybe he hadnt been
Thanks