Over 1,000 neglected animals and birds found in US warehouse
Police in California stumbled across a building crammed with more than 1,000 snakes, parrots, chickens and other animals – many of them dead – when they arrived to serve an arrest warrant on a man who rented the property.
The surviving creatures were examined and sent to shelters on Friday by the Inland Valley Humane Society and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“Almost 2,000 chickens, parakeets, lovebirds and other exotic birds were rescued from an industrial warehouse,” the groups said. “Dozens of exotic fish were found at the location.”
Police arrived at the rubbish-filled industrial building in Montclair, 48 kilometres east of Los Angeles, to make an arrest unrelated to the animals.
They had asked humane society workers to accompany them to care for the man’s two dogs while he was in custody.
But when they got there, humane society manager James Edward said, they immediately became suspicious that other animals were inside.
A search warrant was served and authorities found more than 1,000 chickens, chicks, parakeets, parrots, lovebirds, snakes and fish.
Mr Edward said there were many dead chickens and snakes, and that conditions were deplorable.
“It’s the worst I’ve seen in nine years in the association,” said Silvia Lemos, a member of the humane society.
Rubbish and debris were strewn everywhere and fish were swimming in tanks so filthy it was impossible to identify them, she said. Snakes were locked in boxes without food or water. The building stank of ammonia.
“It was definitely uninhabitable for animals or people,” Mr Edward said.
He said authorities did not know why the animals were kept there and police did not release the arrested man’s name.