http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/1862590.html
ARLINGTON — An unusual municipal court animal-custody hearing ended Thursday with attorneys trading harsh words in closing arguments.
Arlington was "suckered" by "a radical interest group," said Lance Evans, attorney for the owners of U.S. Global Exotics.
Not so, an attorney for the city said: A north Arlington warehouse where more than 26,000 animals were seized was a "death camp."
The owners of U.S. Global Exotics are trying to regain custody of more than 26,000 animals that were removed by Arlington workers Dec. 15 after an undercover investigator for PETA turned over photos, videos and other documents taken during his seven months of employment there.
The administrative hearing before Municipal Judge Michael Smith lasted seven days. Smith said he could determine custody as soon as Monday.
Evans said PETA fabricated reports of animal cruelty at the business as part of its mission to shut down the entire exotic-pet industry.
The PETA investigator, Howard Goldman, testified early in the hearing that animals were kept in cramped dirty cages and often went weeks without food or clean water.
Goldman said sick or injured animals were denied care and left to die or were killed by being placed in a freezer.
Trading allegations
Evans, an attorney for company owners Jasen and Vanessa Shaw, called Goldman’s accusations "ludicrous."
The Shaws had nothing to gain financially by killing the animals they were trying to sell to pet stores, zoos and other animal distributors, Evans said.
It was apparent, Evans said, that Goldman was so busy secretly taking photos and videos that he neglected the duties the Shaws had hired him to handle.
"The city of Arlington was duped, was suckered into this case by a radical special-interest group," Evans said. "What PETA is trying to do through the city is get a ruling that per se an entire industry is illegal because the industry cannot operate without cruelty to animals."
Linda Frank, an attorney for Arlington, said the city was focused only on stopping animal cruelty at U.S. Global Exotics, not on shutting down the industry.
She described the Oakmead Drive business as a "death camp" where animals crushed or ate one another because of overcrowding or died a slow death from untreated illness or neglect.
"These owners, on their watch, allowed this cruel treatment to occur," Frank said. "It was not possible for the city to turn their back, to turn a blind eye, to merely walk away and leave this facility as it existed at the time this warrant was requested."
Frank said the city did not base the seizure only on PETA’s documents.
City employees inspected the facility Dec. 9 after a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent reported possible inhumane conditions there.
The federal agency is apparently investigating the accuracy of health certificates provided for exported animals and has seized many of the company’s records, Evans said.
The Shaws, who have been in New Zealand on vacation, did not attend the hearing and have not been available for comment.
Thousands died
During the raid, described by officials as the largest of its kind in the country, workers recovered more than 600 animal carcasses, including more than 200 iguanas that had been left in shipping crates for about two weeks with no food or water.
Evans argued that many of the deaths could have been caused by conditions the animals had before being caught in the wild and shipped to U.S. Global.
He said he was alarmed to learn Thursday that nearly 4,000 of the company’s animals have died in city custody.
According to records provided to Smith by the city, 3,627 reptiles and 293 small mammals have died since the raid.
The animals are being cared for at an undisclosed location by workers with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal organizations.
"I want an investigation. I believe the seize was more dangerous than any alleged conditions they have been in," Evans said. "I believe the conduct of the city and PETA in the seizure of these animals have endangered their health."
ARLINGTON — An unusual municipal court animal-custody hearing ended Thursday with attorneys trading harsh words in closing arguments.
Arlington was "suckered" by "a radical interest group," said Lance Evans, attorney for the owners of U.S. Global Exotics.
Not so, an attorney for the city said: A north Arlington warehouse where more than 26,000 animals were seized was a "death camp."
The owners of U.S. Global Exotics are trying to regain custody of more than 26,000 animals that were removed by Arlington workers Dec. 15 after an undercover investigator for PETA turned over photos, videos and other documents taken during his seven months of employment there.
The administrative hearing before Municipal Judge Michael Smith lasted seven days. Smith said he could determine custody as soon as Monday.
Evans said PETA fabricated reports of animal cruelty at the business as part of its mission to shut down the entire exotic-pet industry.
The PETA investigator, Howard Goldman, testified early in the hearing that animals were kept in cramped dirty cages and often went weeks without food or clean water.
Goldman said sick or injured animals were denied care and left to die or were killed by being placed in a freezer.
Trading allegations
Evans, an attorney for company owners Jasen and Vanessa Shaw, called Goldman’s accusations "ludicrous."
The Shaws had nothing to gain financially by killing the animals they were trying to sell to pet stores, zoos and other animal distributors, Evans said.
It was apparent, Evans said, that Goldman was so busy secretly taking photos and videos that he neglected the duties the Shaws had hired him to handle.
"The city of Arlington was duped, was suckered into this case by a radical special-interest group," Evans said. "What PETA is trying to do through the city is get a ruling that per se an entire industry is illegal because the industry cannot operate without cruelty to animals."
Linda Frank, an attorney for Arlington, said the city was focused only on stopping animal cruelty at U.S. Global Exotics, not on shutting down the industry.
She described the Oakmead Drive business as a "death camp" where animals crushed or ate one another because of overcrowding or died a slow death from untreated illness or neglect.
"These owners, on their watch, allowed this cruel treatment to occur," Frank said. "It was not possible for the city to turn their back, to turn a blind eye, to merely walk away and leave this facility as it existed at the time this warrant was requested."
Frank said the city did not base the seizure only on PETA’s documents.
City employees inspected the facility Dec. 9 after a U.S. Fish and Wildlife agent reported possible inhumane conditions there.
The federal agency is apparently investigating the accuracy of health certificates provided for exported animals and has seized many of the company’s records, Evans said.
The Shaws, who have been in New Zealand on vacation, did not attend the hearing and have not been available for comment.
Thousands died
During the raid, described by officials as the largest of its kind in the country, workers recovered more than 600 animal carcasses, including more than 200 iguanas that had been left in shipping crates for about two weeks with no food or water.
Evans argued that many of the deaths could have been caused by conditions the animals had before being caught in the wild and shipped to U.S. Global.
He said he was alarmed to learn Thursday that nearly 4,000 of the company’s animals have died in city custody.
According to records provided to Smith by the city, 3,627 reptiles and 293 small mammals have died since the raid.
The animals are being cared for at an undisclosed location by workers with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and other animal organizations.
"I want an investigation. I believe the seize was more dangerous than any alleged conditions they have been in," Evans said. "I believe the conduct of the city and PETA in the seizure of these animals have endangered their health."
Now there's egg in the face of the industry itself. This is the feul that Peta runs on... As an industry, we, as exotic [and yes, even domestic] animal keepers must make sure we don't support businesses like Shaw's and only buy healthy animals from reputable sources with integrity. If you see anyone with questionable/potentially harmful or neglecting husbandry practices, report them to the BOI immediately, don't pick the healthiest animal there and buy [or "rescue"] it because it's cheaper than from sources with actual integrity!