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Archives of The Cold Blooded NewsThe Newsletter of the Colorado Herpetological SocietyVolume 30, Number 7; July, 2003 |
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Male Lizard Cooperation The Viper Tells Its Tale Crocs Swallow Prey Underwater Reptile Connection Owner Charged PREVIOUS ISSUES June 2003 2002 Index Earlier Issues About the Cold Blooded News CHS Home Page |
Reptile Connection Owner Charged With Maryland's Animal Cruelty StatuteReprinted from Herp Digest, Vol.3, No.43, June 29, 2003.Originally a Press Release, 6/23/03, Police Department of Montgomery County, Maryland. Officers from the Animal Services Division have been investigating the welfare and legality of reptiles owned and housed by the Reptile Connection, a warehouse facility located at 2629 Garfield Avenue in Silver Spring. On Wednesday, June 4, 2003, Animal Services Code Enforcement Inspectors responded to the warehouse to conduct a thorough search of the premises after the neighboring business, Clever Dog Daycare, discovered harmless baby ball pythons in their office space. Sixteen to twenty baby Ball Pythons were recovered from inside the dog daycare facility and from the outside parking lot. No people or animals were injured by the pythons. A dead scorpion and gecko were discovered in the parking lot area of the businesses. The inspection of the warehouse revealed not only the method of escape for the baby pythons (small enough to wriggle through the sliding glass doors of their containers), but also unsanitary living conditions for the reptiles, and venomous snakes which are illegal to possess in Montgomery County. On Thursday, June 5, the entire collection was examined by an area veterinarian and veterinarian technician to assess the animals' health and welfare. There were over 1,500 animals including 2 King Cobras, an alligator, 26 Gaboon Vipers, 100 Emperor Scorpions, 2 Death Stalker Scorpions, boa constrictors, King and Corn snakes. There were between 500 and 1,000 baby Ball Pythons. Of the over 1,500 animals, 199 were found dead. After the inspection, the animals were assessed to be at risk, the warehouse conditions were deemed unsafe, and all the animals were removed from the facility and placed in the care of area zoos and local herpetologists and veterinarians. On June 9, a warrant with 31 counts (one count for each live species and one count to cover the total number of dead animals) of Animal Cruelty for failure to provide animals with nutritious food in sufficient quantity, necessary veterinary care, proper drink, air space, or shelter, was issued for Christopher Coroneos, the leaseholder at the Reptile Connection. On Thursday, June 12, Coroneos, age 23, of the 10700 block of Hayes Avenue in Silver Spring, turned himself in to authorities. He was released on his own recognizance. He may later be charged with civil citations for possession of a dangerous animal, unsanitary and dangerous conditions, and animal trespass (for the baby Ball pythons found in the dog daycare facility and parking lot). Copyright © 1998 - 2006, Colorado Herpetological Society. All rights reserved. | ||
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