I know I don’t have many followers, but I wanted to get this out there in case any of you live in the Dallas area.
Yesterday, a well-respected chondro breeder/keeper was arrested (for as of yet unknown reasons). In the aftermath, the man’s father apparently surrendered all of the snakes, an…Signal boost
Reblogging this again with new info.
A forum member was able to get in contact with GTPatrick’s business partner, Josh. He spoke to a local game warden who told him that the SPCA illegally confiscated the animals without a warrant. GTPatrick is being held, but has not be charged with any crime.
Four of the animals are dead because the SPCA did not have enough room and left them outside in the Texas sun.
The SPCA is still giving anyone who calls the runaround, claiming that the animals were sent to various facilities who then claim they don’t have them. Two of the chondros and ten other snakes (most likely carpet pythons) have already been saved by a local keeper.
If you like snakes/reptiles or just hate it when those in power abuse it, please reblog. MVF is a rather quiet forum, so I’m trying to get the word out on this.
EDIT: More info came in while I was writing. The animals were initially seized by the local animal control (still without a warrant). Those 4 that died, died within the care of animal control. When the director was contacted, he confirmed that “they didn’t have enough room for all the animals/cages” so some were left outside. He also confirmed that they got about 70 snakes, but that they had already been sent to 911 Wildlife, a local rescue.
When 911 Wildlife was contacted, they claimed that all the animals had been sent to the Snake Farm (where the only 12 recovered are now). Eric T., who runs the Snake Farm and is friends with Patrick, was contacted, he said that the only animals that 911 Wildlife gave him were 2 chondros adult (that looked to be dead), 7 rattlesnakes, and a mangrove snake. There was also an incubator with only 2 neonates inside. 911 Wildlife is no longer answering phone calls, and hung up when asked for their address.
There are still 60 adult snakes and 14 neonates missing.SIGNAL BOOST. This is atrocious, and I feel ill reading it. Here’s hoping these snakes can be located (especially the ones there on loan), and that no others die. More info in this thread as well: http://moreliaviridis.yuku.com/topic/20209/To-clear-things-up
This is disgusting! Major signal boost, this an atrocious way to handle any sort of seized animal and the fact the charities are being so uncooperative is terrible.
