KENT COUNTY, Mich. — Kent County deputies are investigating after over two dozen exotic animals were discovered in a home in Gaines Township over the weekend.
Deputies were initially responding to a child custody dispute Sunday at a home in the 6000 block of E Amber Drive SE when the animals were found. Some of them were dead.
Animal control officers were called to the scene. A total of 27 exotic animals—boa constrictors, pythons, corn snakes, tree snakes, tarantulas, a Pacman frog and a tegu—were recovered from the home. An additional 10 snakes were found dead.
"Many of the animals were kept in, like plastic totes. So there were several deceased snakes in the small plastic totes and very dirty water, filthy conditions, probably contributing to their poor health and death," said Kent County Sheriff's Office PIO Sgt, Eric Brunner.
Fellow neighbor John Rendak called officials about the animals in the home two months ago.
“As a parent and a grandparent it, you know, concern me because what happens if one of them's just a little baby? What happens if one of the snakes got out?" said Rendak. “You know, I'm, I'm hoping that they catch this guy. Open CPS gets involved, because I guess the the conditions were pretty atrocious in there."
Deputies say John Ball Zoo is now working to care for the animals that were removed from the home.
"It's very hard to see animals in the type of shape that they were in, in this case," said John Ball Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Colburn. "I think on the flip side, there's, there's the very positive feeling of, hey, we're in a position now that we can fix that."
“The fact that someone can even whether whatever reptile or type of animal it is that you could even do that to an animal is disgusting to me," said neighbor Karaea Tatroe. “It just makes me want to go look under my own to double check it makes sure that before I bring my kids out there are no snakes around here.”
Kent County Animal Control is investigating the incident. The case will then be reviewed for possible charges.
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