B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 Conservation Officer Service says a man is facing charges under the Wildlife Act following the seizure of hundreds, if not thousands, of exotic animals from a rental home in Surrey Aug. 8.
Maple Ridge veterinarian Dr. Adrian Walton told the Now-Leader he was called to the home by Surrey乌鸦传媒檚 bylaw department after someone saw a 乌鸦传媒渂unch of reptiles out on a deck.乌鸦传媒�
Walton said after arriving at the home, he quickly realized there was a lot more to the story.
乌鸦传媒淲hile we were doing the investigation, you took one quick look in the window and you were seeing this entire room of deli cups full of bugs, basically. Mostly spiders, but you could see some scorpions,乌鸦传媒� said Walton, who is head veterinarian at Dewdney Animal Hospital, which has experience caring for exotic creatures, albeit not this many.
Walton estimated there were thousands of creatures in the Surrey home.
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Because of the condition of the animals, Walton said B.C. Conservation Officer Service got a warrant that was executed around 11 p.m. that evening.
Many animals were in 乌鸦传媒減oor condition,乌鸦传媒� he said, adding that some containers housing them didn乌鸦传媒檛 have air holes.
乌鸦传媒淔rom the bugs perspective, most of the animals were tarantulas and scorpions and these are venomous. Under Surrey bylaws, they乌鸦传媒檙e not legal, so Surrey can乌鸦传媒檛 adopt them out. You乌鸦传媒檙e stuck in a situation of what do you do with these animals? Many were not identifiable, because they were babies. Some animals in there that were highly venomous, that no group is going to adopt out due to liability issues, my understanding is that the decision were made that those animals were not adoptable so they were destroyed.乌鸦传媒�
While the Maple Ridge clinic cared for many of the animals and insects, many have since been transported to the Victoria Bug Zoo. Others were taken to the Surrey Animal Resource Centre.
Walton said it was 乌鸦传媒減retty obvious乌鸦传媒� this was a wholesale situation and that the animals were either arriving or being prepared for shipment.
乌鸦传媒淭his is a situation we deal with in the pet trade 乌鸦传媒� the international and even national transport of animals. What we know from various studies is the mortality rate is approximately 70 per cent,乌鸦传媒� he told the Now-Leader. 乌鸦传媒淲e have serious concerns about the ethics of that. So to see such a large volume of animals, many of which were not in the best of condition, it乌鸦传媒檚 very upsetting to someone who actually sees these animals as incredibly unique creatures. I乌鸦传媒檓 supportive of the people, the local breeders, who raise these animals because they have a love乌鸦传媒�. You shouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be buying online, you shouldn乌鸦传媒檛 be buying from pet stores, you should be finding local qualified breeders and getting your exotic pets that way. 乌鸦传媒�
As passionate as he is, Walton laughed as he said walking into a home with thousands of spiders at 11 o乌鸦传媒檆lock at night 乌鸦传媒渋sn乌鸦传媒檛 exactly my idea of fun.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚 just went to pick up a couple of turtles, and was hoping to be home for dinner,乌鸦传媒� he chuckled. 乌鸦传媒淎ll the weird stuff, somehow Dewdney gets involved.乌鸦传媒�
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In an emailed statement, B.C.乌鸦传媒檚 conservation service said a man who is known to them is facing 乌鸦传媒渕ultiple charges乌鸦传媒� under the Wildlife Act in connection to case.
The statement noted was in 乌鸦传媒渦nlawful possession of live Schedule A wildlife, namely various turtle species乌鸦传媒� and that a search warrant was executed. The statement adds that the City of Surrey seized hundreds of spiders, scorpions and centipedes, seeing as they were illegal to possess under the municipal bylaw.
The man乌鸦传媒檚 name has not been released.
While officials wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 pinpoint an exact address of the home, they told the Now-Leader it was in north-east Surrey.
乌鸦传媒淚t is unlawful to possess live wildlife without a permit,乌鸦传媒� the statement from the conservation service notes, 乌鸦传媒渁nd hobbyists should check all federal, provincial and municipal regulations prior to purchasing or housing any reptile or amphibian species to ensure they are in compliance with all applicable legislation.乌鸦传媒�
In a Facebook post, the Victoria Bug Zoo wrote that it plans to begin adopting out the vinegaroons in its care on Sept. 4, for a fee of $40.
乌鸦传媒淲e will adopt out a maximum of two to each person - however, this species is solitary and each should be kept alone in its own enclosure,乌鸦传媒� reads a post from Victoria Bug Zoo. 乌鸦传媒淪ome may be pregnant, we respectfully ask that any vinegaroons that lay eggs be temporarily returned to the zoo so we can care for the babies.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淭o everyone who has already expressed Interest in adopting one of our little friends here, thank you so much for your kindness, and thank you to Dewdney Animal Hospital Ltd. and Adrian for helping us get the word out!乌鸦传媒�
An earlier Victoria Bug Zoo post noted they had about 15 vinegaroons in their care, which were all in 乌鸦传媒渆xtremely rough shape when they arrived.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淚t is incredibly sad when animals must pay the price for the poor decisions of humans,乌鸦传媒� that post reads. 乌鸦传媒淭here are, unfortunately, unscrupulous people in the exotic pet trade, and this is why it is important to know who you are supporting when you make a purchase. Research your provider, always choose captive bred where possible, and don乌鸦传媒檛 buy from people who sell illegal or unhealthy animals.乌鸦传媒�
In a Facebook video, a staff member at Victoria Bug Zoo explains vinegaroons are arachnids, 乌鸦传媒渇airly closely related to spiders and scorpions.乌鸦传媒�
