Home / Crime and Justice / Hundreds of Exotic Pets Perish in Shocking Animal Welfare Scandal
Hundreds of Exotic Pets Perish in Shocking Animal Welfare Scandal
9 Oct
Summary
- 1,800 animals seized, nearly 400 died or euthanized
- Exotic pets found in poor conditions, some dead or close to death
- Breeder David Johnson sentenced to suspended prison term
In a disturbing case of animal neglect, authorities in the UK have uncovered a massive exotic pet breeding operation that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of animals. According to the details, in December 2020, the RSPCA and police carried out searches at four addresses in Shropshire, where they discovered over 1,800 animals in poor condition.
The investigation revealed that 37-year-old David Johnson, of Manchester, had been keeping a variety of exotic creatures, including snakes, lizards, and tortoises, in substandard conditions. Tragically, nearly 400 of the seized animals either died or had to be euthanized due to the neglect they had suffered.
At one of the properties, inspectors found over 1,000 leopard geckos, along with hundreds of other reptiles, all living in deplorable circumstances. RSPCA Inspector Kate Parker described the scene, saying, "I could instantly feel that it was cold inside. It was cold inside for any animal, let alone reptiles."
