Shop of horrors: 150 exotic animals rescued from severe neglect

BURNSIDE, Ky.-The Humane Society of the United States is assisting the Burnside Police Department in rescuing approximately 150 exotic animals in a large-scale alleged severe neglect situation at a local pet store. Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Special Investigation Unit, Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society, Pulaski County Attorney’s Office and Pulaski County Animal Control also provided assistance on-scene.
Local authorities served a search and seizure warrant at Tim’s Reptiles and Exotics off US-27 at approximately 11 a.m. EDT. 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 pet store operator was arrested by Burnside Police Department on 19 counts of animal cruelty.
The guinea pigs and several turtles were forced to share the same enclosure, which was covered in spider webs. The water in the fish tanks was murky, and most of the animals had no apparent access to food or clean water. Hamsters gnawed frantically on the wire siding of their makeshift enclosure, and some of the rabbits were found in barren cages with nowhere to find relief from the wire flooring.
“It was deeply disturbing to witness the bleak lives of these animals in this shop of horrors,” said Todd Blevins, Kentucky director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are thankful to the Burnside Police Department and all of the organizations involved in getting these animals the care that they desperately need.”
The animals received initial veterinary exams on-scene and were surrendered to Burnside Police Department. They will continue to receive much-needed attention through several organizations prepared to provide specialized care. Liberty Nature Center, Thoroughbred Exotics, Bourbon County Rescue, Paws 4 the Cause, Lexington Humane Society and KY Fish and Tank Rescue are among the groups taking in the animals.
“I was shocked to see animals living in these conditions,” said Chief Mike Hill of Burnside Police Department. “It is a great relief to all of us here that these animals will have an opportunity to be rehabilitated, thanks to the help from the Humane Society of the United States and everyone involved in making this happen today.”
The assistance of the Humane Society of the United States was requested by the Burnside Police Department after concerns about the welfare of animals on the property were raised by Burnside City Code Enforcement.

[@stephanieb7311]

Godbless everyone involved in this desperately needed rescue.

[@ElizabethKDill]

😳😳😳 THANK YOU for rescuing them.

[@ilovemefirst4689]

Poor innocent beings left to live in horrid conditions. Thank you for caring!

[@kennysantiago71]

Thank you for saving each and every animal. They deserve to be cared for and loved.

[@Wendy-cj5yz]

That is hell. Dear me. Poor range of creatures. Well done. Hopefully, you have been brought in in time.

[@susannewilliamsson8339]

You make all of us feel good too! NO words will EVER be great enough to describe my endless Gratitude and Respect to you for saving theese amazing animals, ALL of them deserves the life they were meant to live, Thank you!

[@kimbrownell4016]

So sad to see this, but thankful someone took the initiative to get help for these animals. Thank you for the rescue.

[@jankakojdova4982]

Thank you very, very much Humane Society for rescue these beautiful innocent animals! God bless you all! 👍🏻🙏💔😢

[@sk.n.9302]

Thanks for rescuing the animals from these conditions & sharing this story. It’s touching how carefully the volunteers handle the creatures.

[@ENowak99]

That's horrible, I hope they'll be doing better. 😔

[@AC-er2fz]

God bless you all for your work. Poor little hamsters. They were sooo happy to see a caring person.

[@vickyg3656]

These poor animals, I hope the people that did this go to jail.

[@Mysikrysa]

And their cell should never be cleaned.

[@puppymaus9333]

Horror 😡👊😤 Danke für eure tolle Arbeit 👍💞💯

[@RaiderLeo69]

What’s wrong with some people! Glad these animals were saved!

[@Dev_7789]

omg thats horrible ☹️ thank you guys for helping them 💙

[@bethclark7615]

Thank you for all you do. And for saving these animals. God bless you all. 🙏🏻❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@terriwarner8682]

No punishment on Earth is severe enough for what these poor creatures went through! That person or persons should be put in prison in similar conditions!

[@leonaheraty3760]

God bless youall for rescuing and helping these animals and helping them find loving and good homes. ❤

[@joansherlock1890]

Thank you, HSUS, for this much-needed rescue and for all your work.

[@misscattyplayz7598]

I am so thankful that you and your team stepped in and saved these innocent animal's life's! I am grateful that you did that!

[@blackbreakthedeathwing9347]

We say all the time, "I'm starving to death!" and "I'm going to die from this heat!" But we have no idea how much pain these animals have every day. This community is there to help all animals from abuse and torture.

[@maryhelenbarletti8419]

Thank you so much for rescuing every one of these precious creatures. They deserve to be loved, protected and cared for. I'm so grateful for people who care and who work to save animals from neglect, torture and suffering. God bless all of you, and may He strengthen you and console you- it's very emotionally wrenching work. But the animals need us and you- to be their voice and their rescuers.❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🫂🫂🫂🐾🐾🐾

[@SongwriterGirl1]

Thanks for helping these animals, so glad they are safe now! I love that you were able to save all of these animals and especially that gopher tortoise.

[@AmyBaby954...]

Thank u all for saving these poor sweet animals

[@dorisbalser838]

Thank you so much for what you do and for getting these animals out of this situation. I hope that the owner gets what he deserves.

[@sherryallen3137]

Thank you for rescuing them! I know they will enjoy a clean place to live and fresh water and food. They deserve no less!

[@Sara-sf2uv]

Thank you so much to the wonderful ppl for rescuing these sweet wonderful precious animals & sending them to the forever loving homes they so deserve!

[@sharonchafin6046]

Thank you so much for this rescue of innocent animals! So glad we contribute!

[@joycerivera5653]

This is deplorable. Thank goodness these innocent creatures were rescued. I'm very pleased that the monster who allowed these creatures to suffer like this has been charged with many counts of animal cruelty. I sincerely hope he goes to jail and pays a very high fine.

[@dixiezahniser1100]

THANK YOU FOR RESCUING THESE ANIMALS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@misshelly87]

I donate to the Humane Soc. of the US and I'm so so glad you are on top of these animal abuses. There is No Excuse for this neglect!!

[@sbcaliforniakitty]

Thank u ALL for taking this abuse seriously & doing something about it!! This shop needed to be CLOSED! U ALL ARE SO WONDERFUL!!🥰

[@DD-ce3fz]

🙏😇 from a grateful ally of HSUS. Thank you.

[@Dumballa]

Thank you for helping.

[@FireElement7]

Thank you so much for getting them out!

[@cynthialarson1161]

Thank you for rescuing them

[@cyndiechinnici5643]

Thank You so very much for saving all these sweet creatures.

[@carolclover1238]

You are All...ANGELS..BLESS YOU...Wish I could have been there to help..Thanx a Million times,youre team is AWESOME

[@Rooie1961]

~ Thank you for doing all of this ~ You are golden and life savers ~ mgf

[@robinmorton8585]

thank you shut all these horrible people down.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

Thank you fir what you do!

[@katmc7803]

Thank you to all for being there for them all to get that better life .❤❤❤

[@tamarrosenberg-walker7599]

Thank you for saving these beautiful babies. Animal abusers are the lowest kind of living organism. I wish a lot of karma for those who did this. But I also remember for every abuser there’s a hundred angels like those of you who rescues them. Thank you again.

[@lelismendoza3617]

Thank you! Thank you💚💚💚💚👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@suzanneb7905]

Thank you, heroes!

[@susantetreault9588]

Thank you thank you for all you did for those poor creatures & all the animals you help. I cant believe someone didnt turn this shop in sooner & if they did why something wasnt something done sooner. Your OUTSTANDING!🤗❣💜

[@jellythecube]

Thank you!

[@annm4833]

Every living thing deserves to be treated kindly and with even just basic care. These poor animals didn't receive anything. Thank God for every one of the rescuers. Your work matters so much.

[@Mike-wj1ms]

thank you for shutting them down. animals are not ours.

[@luquezaves7651]

Esse é o retrato de quando tratam animais como simples objetos, como fonte de renda. Nenhum ser vivo merece isso, todos são dignos de respeito. Muito obrigado por salvar estes animais. Que agora eles tenham a chance de ser respeitados e viver livres. Deus abençoe vcs 🙏🙏

[@wubbywubby15]

You guys are absolutely wonderful!!

[@MrTmenzo]

Thank you to whoever reported this cruel excuse of a pet store.

[@hvandieren]

Thank heavens for the HSUS rescue team, animal placement partners, law enforcement and official agencies who saved the vast array of animals at this pet store. A very complex effort, requiring careful documentation, veterinary triage and medical attention, logistics of comfortably transporting the animals to homes, sanctuaries and temporary caregivers. Remarkable!

[@leehunt1619]

There is a God watching always, God Bless each and everyone of you who do this recuse work for these innocent animals, may God always take care of you and keep you safe Amen!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@_LoveALLAnimals_]

THANK YOU for SAVING these PRECIOUS LIVES 🙏🏻💚 THANK YOU for EVERYTHING You do for The Animals 💖 #GoVegan 🙏🏻🌱💚 #LoveAllAnimals 💖

[@julieeroberts9755]

The owner of this atrocity should be made to pay for the entire cleanup, rehoming efforts & pay for all of the man hours of the agencies that came together to deal with this horrendous situation. If he/she owns the building and land it should be sold to compensate for all of this. If it was rented, the landlord should be held accountable in part for allowing it to get to this state. This is utterly unacceptable. I wonder who brought the condition of this facility to light; god bless them, whoever they were, THANK YOU!

[@smariegalski3641]

Thank you

[@sandymatza]

I’m glad you saved them. Hope they get loving and Furever homes. 🙏🙋‍♀️🐶🙌

[@maureenwoodard9588]

Watching these videos breaks my heart I am so so glad that you are with her and save these animals I hope they’re on their way to the most beautiful loving caring lives ever and thank you all so much for what you do I have 14 permanent rescue cats at my house that are well loved and taken care of and otherwise I would surely donate to your cause but it’s pretty expensive take care of these little boogers anyway thank you

[@cherylfleming5791]

Thank goodness for ppl like you. These poor babys. They deserve a good healthy environment to live. Bless you all. And many blessings to the animals may the owner rot in one of his cages ..

[@jenn1234]

OMG 😲 😭🤬 Poor animals! Thank god for the heroes that saved them from that miserable place! Thank you to all who helped save these precious animals. ❤️🥰

[@Chitowngirl44]

Thank you for rescuing these animlas and reptiles. How horrible. These animlas deserve loving homes, or proper sanctuary’s. I hope everyone involved goes to jail for a long time and aren’t allowed to have animals ever again.

[@juno6]

👏👏👏👏👏 congratulations!!!!

[@daylebrown7055]

I almost throw up. Not even gonna lie. This is so sad. Whoever does this to animals need to go to jail for life.

[@patriciathomas5951]

bless your hearts- and thanks to the police for shutting this down. thinking of all the animals who will now enjoy a good life

[@BunnyGirl71]

God bless the women and men who rescue animals from deplorable conditions like this. Words cannot express the contempt I feel for someone who allows such neglect to befall creatures who depend on humans to care for them. May karma dish back everything the store owner deserves for such cruelty. :(

[@susandeleon-barlis4]

GOD bless you ALL! THANK YOU SO MUCH for ALL YOUR HEART WORK to RESCUE and Find Forever Homes for these Beautiful CREATURES.

[@mrxxbrian]

Absolutely depressing what humans can do to animals

[@christinemott8799]

Isn't it pisses me off

[@brendanaysmith9358]

There Not Humans!! They are all just POS. It's all about Money and the Precious Animal's Suffer deeply. They all should be made Examples of. Unfortunately there are more POS out there. Look at the Fur business. Just makes me Cry. So Heartbreaking. God Bless these Hero's

[@laurahuffman6816]

Obviously the so called humans didnt care one bit...maybe their punishment should be to live there locked up themselves

[@melissap.6271]

You're all amazing. 🥲💞💗

[@karencarbone2603]

Those poor animals! They don,t deserve to live like that! The owners should go to jail!

[@yvonneanderson912]

Thank you! Donated.

[@helenlackey7721]

So thankful this place was finally shut down! I took my little boy in there one time and the smell was horrific. I didn't make it more than a step inside the door before I had to walk back out.

[@StephanieMarie0215]

You guys are beautiful people 😍

[@Waynesworldtattoomc]

Reported them 3 times two years ago. To the police and whomever they provided me the number to for animals. Was told it wasn’t either of their problems. Finally something was done.

[@susaninPeachtree]

How about a picture of the owner?

[@rozzybabe999]

God Bless Animal"s 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@monicareynolds8022]

all pet shops should be shut down !

[@Lhildebrand0604]

Many thanks to the rescuers of course! What I don't understand is why places like this are allowed to operate for so long after multiple complaints. We need stricter laws as well as enforcement of existing laws. While lawmakers dilly dally animals suffer and die.

[@oromojr1029]

ATROCIOUS on maximum overdrive!!! Bless all of u for rescuing all of them on time. The tank waters are just deplorable at a loss for words. How they survived all the contamination that has been their "home" is beyond anyone's imagination and a miracle in itself! BUT, these amazing & wonderful rescue workers are they themselves the ultimate MIRACLE WORKERS!!❤️💯

[@tonymyers5402]

The owner should be locked away and the key thrown away...keep him in a cage with no food or water. There is no excuse for such cruelty...absolutely disgusting....poor creatures they did not deserve this... You guys are great. Thanks for the rescue. Good to know they are on their way to a better future.

[@liennuh]

How was it able to get so far.. what kind of customers bought animals there and didn't report it..

[@TarantulHER]

This pet store was reported many times. Nobody did anything until a code enforcer said something. I work at a wildlife refuge and we got some of the MANY turtles he had in there. Everyone I know, including myself, that went in there complained.

[@sharonandrews6985]

Thank you God for these wonderful people who TRULY help and care for these innocent darlings. Please bless them always. In Jesus name Amen

[@juliarodriguezyanez1041]

Pobres animales ! 😢 Gracias por rescatarlos de ese infierno 👏👏

[@RebeccaHill-n8c]

That's horrible, I hope they'll be doing better.

[@guadalupemartinezreyes6474]

God sees everything, EVERYTHING!! People stop being cruel to God's creations.. Thank you to the men and women that are always watching to. God bless you all..

[@itsabouttogetreal8051]

As a reptile specialists I am totally horrified by these conditions!

[@StokesMusicStudiosOnline]

Please stop Dr ouchy's cruel torture of innocent beagle dogs.

[@karenpokorny77]

I hate snakes but I even feel sorry for them. Be happy and healthy all.

[@rogeriabarroso2150]

Parabéns pelo trabalho de vocês 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@heidibaur4101]

Those monsters at the pet store need to be locked up and throw away the key. Thanks for saving these animals

[@n.twinkie6311]

Disgusting. I'm glad they got them out of there.

[@ginagriffin5268]

PLEASE DONATE to the Humane Society WHEN you CAN....They NEED ALL of US to HELP!! ...WONDERFUL work!THANK YOU...Gina Tenore-Griffin

[@janbrett8173]

Just think what could be accomplished if everyone that saw this donated $10????

[@inlovewithjesus404]

Und wieder fehlen mir die Worte. Ich gehöre auch noch zu der Gattung Mensch🫣🫣🫣

[@kuttisworld3489]

all animals are poor,lovefully and kind.i am a large animal lover.i am a kid so i cant help those animals.all animals lovers know that there more than 1 core endangered animals are there in the world.if all the animal lover and me fight with people who kill animals.so we can save all animal in the world.if you are there with me just say yes

[@TamaraBeinlich]

He bred the rats and rabbits to feed the snakes. I'm sorry but any animal you have to feed live animals too is not a pet, it's a wild animal. No animal should have to live the way these poor animals were living. Good job HSUS but I would have liked a longer video after they were removed from this horror.

[@reginatheferret8595]

your not very smart.

[@angryguy4643]

let's help annimals. don't say we need people like this be that person

[@Aurixia_Gacha]

Thats horible.

[@River_wylde]

I lived close to there but never visited . Was told when i moved to the area how nasty it was . People apparently had been reporting it for years

[@nataliefell4251]

Tk you for saving them. The owner needs more than jail time.