Kent Co MI man facing felony charge after 27 exotic animals were seized from his home

About damned time!

https://www.fox17online.com/news/loc...-from-his-home

Kent Co. man facing felony charge after 27 exotic animals were seized from his home

Authorities report at least 27 living animals and 10 dead snakes were taken out of a Gaines Twp. home in late October

KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The man at the center of an investigation into the alleged abuse of dozens of exotic animals has been criminally charged.

Michael Thomas Lawton is facing one felony count of cruelty to animals (10 or more, but less than 25).

If convicted, he could face up to four years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

... more + video at link

The second clause in this sentence is a little troubling:

"He doesn't understand his own capabilities, because nobody would have that many animals and expect to be able to feed them and take care of them.“ They (she, anyway) clearly wasn't involved in the serious herp community.

Here's a report that focuses more on the rescue aspect of the situation. The reporters take a positive angle on things:

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/...f-ea41d16e27bc

A little troubling that a rescue taking in animals that "were almost all battling respiratory illnesses and they were infested with blood-sucking mites" uses OSB racks, which can't be effectively disinfected. Maybe they all were QTed in nonporous enclosures in another room, and maybe all the respiratory cases are now asymptomatic and cleared multiple virus swabs, but I'm not sure how likely that is.