The owner of a pet shop who pleaded guilty in March to ill-treatment of an animal in relation to three snakes was convicted in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today.

The consolidated charge related to two Moriela Jungle Jag pythons and an Albino carpet python. The accused had failed to provide the animals with appropriate heating lights and living conditions and thereby failed to mitigate harm to them.

On 17 September 2019, RSPCA Inspectors, accompanied by three SAPOL Officers, a Department for Environment and Water Senior Permit Officer, a vet and a locksmith, attended at the north-eastern suburbs store in response to reports of reptiles in poor health and poor living conditions.

The defendant was present at the property throughout the inspection and admitted none of the reptiles were under any treatment or vet care at the time.

The enclosures housing the reptiles appeared to have UV light and purple heat lights. However, temperatures recorded inside the enclosures were within the range of 17.2 to 24.1 degrees Celsius. The recommended temperature for reptile enclosures is between 28 to 32 degrees Celsius.

One enclosure housing two pythons was found with one python already deceased. The second snake was cold to touch and found to have mites, with signs of respiratory disease and dehydration. Both snakes were seized and taken for further assessment.

A Jungle Jag Python was seen by inspectors to be in cognitive distress, and appeared to be contorting, unable to move correctly and holding its head under water. This python was also seized by inspectors.

The inspectors were then alerted to an Albino Carpet Python who was blowing bubbles from its nose. The enclosure returned a temperature of 19.6 degrees Celsius and mites could be seen in the water and on the snake. After closer examination it was found the snake had a respiratory infection and swollen trachea.

The defendant’s records showed that since 1 January 2019, 36 of 100 reptiles purchased or gifted had died.

Prior to leaving the property, the defendant and his wife were issued seven Animal Welfare Notices by Inspectors requiring specific improvements to living conditions within a certain timeframe.

The Inspectors transported the four snakes (three alive, one deceased) to a veterinary clinic for assessment by a wildlife specialist vet. One of the Moriela Jungle Jag Pythons was euthanased after being found to be suffering a severe neurological disease that prevented it from feeding, as well as a respiratory disease and snake mites.

The second Moriela Jungle Jag python was also euthanased after being found to have more than 30 rib fractures (some recent, some healing), as well as spinal disease, respiratory disease, stomatitis and snake mites. The Albino Carpet Python was suffering with respiratory disease, hypothermia and mites, but recovered with treatment.

RSPCA Inspectors have attended at the pet shop on several occasions subsequently to the snakes being seized (including a visit last week), to ensure compliance with Animal Welfare Notices.

In court today, the 66-year-old defendant stated that he was in the process of winding up the sale of snakes and that the store is down to its last eight. He also told the court that he will not be seeking to renew his permit to keep exotic animals.

Magistrate Christopher Smolicz said that this was not trivial offending and that cruelty and mistreatment of animals is all too prevalent in our community, with the offending being hard to detect. His Honour further stated that the community’s expectation was that animals had to be treated well and that pets cannot look after themselves or speak for themselves when there is an issue, so they are totally reliant on humans to do the right thing. The accused was convicted and received a 12-month, $500 Good Behaviour Bond.

Under SA’s Animal Welfare Act, the maximum penalty for animal cruelty is $20,000 or two years’ imprisonment. For an aggravated cruelty offence, the maximum penalty is $50,000 or four years’ imprisonment.

RSPCA South Australia is the state’s only animal welfare charity with inspectors empowered to prosecute animal cruelty under SA’s Animal Welfare Act.

Members of the public who witness animal cruelty or neglect are urged to immediately call RSPCA’s 24-hour cruelty report hotline on 1300 477 722.

 

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