Rescue Transfer Saga Where Pets Became Reptile Food Enters Lawsuit Phase
Last August, citing overcrowding, the San Diego Humane Society transferred over 300 “pocket pets” – rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. – to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona (HSSA) for adoption. Initial excitement over the transfer morphed into concern and suspicion, however, as adopters and others in the rescue community noted that these newly transferred pets weren’t being posted on HSSA’s website for adoption. An investigation followed, leading to the firing of HSSA’s CEO, after his organization was shown to have turned over about 250 of these pets to a mysterious, unlicensed rescue organization.
There were no adoption records, and, as noted by SDHS, nobody in the history of the universe has responsibly adopted out 250+ animals in as short a time as HSSA claimed had happened. It looked bad. This was, at a bare minimum, a case of astonishingly bad judgement.
But then it got even weirder. Wild, almost unbelievable rumors started popping up that these pocket pets weren’t ever intended to be adopted at all, but rather frozen and used as reptile food. And before you could say “Waaait a second, these accusations sound kinda, uh, nutty,” it was revealed that one of the people associated with the “unlicensed rescue” does, in fact, run a side business breeding reptiles and selling small animals for snake feed. Uh oh.
Now, legal action is being considered, and any herp enthusiast, dealer, and/or breeder you talk to has rightfully cut ties with the reptile breeder in question. The betrayal of trust here is just unbelievably audacious and callous. So many folks, especially active members of the rescue community, had high hopes and faith that the people involved in this transfer would all do the right thing. Unfortunately, this proves that "most people" behaving honorably isn't always enough to avert a crisis. We will continue following this saga until its conclusion. Hopefully, the most recent revelations mark its final plot twist, but sheesh – it really is hard to say with this one.
Legal action sought against Arizona breeding company after 260 small animals were fed to reptiles
Resources
★ Two Humane Society leaders out following controversial transfer of animals
★ Arizona Humane Society sued over custody of dogs from Chandler ‘house of horrors’
