More than 100 exotic animals were seized from a Burnside pet store Wednesday.
Burnside Police arrested the owner of Tim’s Reptiles and Exotics, located off South 27 in Pulaski County at the Tri County Flea Market, and took more than 100 animals from the shop.
Owner Timothy C. Lorraine, 61 of Whitley City, is facing 19 counts of animal cruelty.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) — based in Washington, DC — was also enlisted by BPD to help rescue some 150 exotic animals that were in the shop when it was shut down. The investigation got underway based on concerns by Burnside City Code Enforcement, according to the Commonwealth Journal in Somerset.
Dozens of snakes, lizards, turtles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and fish were found living in filthy, poor conditions typically seen in severe neglect situations, the newspaper reported.
Read more from the Commonwealth Journal here.
