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Livonia cops bust exotic animal ring
Two from Flint area held after police find 69 pets in 2 residences; some back with owners.
Christine Ferretti / The Detroit News
LIVONIA -- A self-proclaimed animal-loving duo boasting a traveling animal education show were arrested this week, accused of stealing nearly 70 animals and keeping them in their homes.
Exotic creatures ranging from wallabies to tarantulas, alligators and a hedge hog have been reunited with their owners after being recovered from the Flint area on Tuesday.
Livonia police got a tip last week from a local victim who led them to 69 exotic pets caged in a Mundy Township apartment, south of Flint and another residence in Flint Township.
Some of the exotics were returned to shops in Livonia, an animal sanctuary near Belleville and a zoo in Birch Run, Livonia Police Lt. Greg Winn said.
"The houses had been virtually turned into a small zoo. The cages were built into the rooms with fencing," Winn said.
Mark Rosenthal, who operates Animal Magic sanctuary in the Belleville area, stumbled upon and began tracking the pair last week when he noticed one of his animals pictured on their Web site,
www.thoseanimalguys.com. He then notified police.
Rosenthal said several of his animals were taken earlier this year.
Rosenthal said his wife has located the owner of five rare toucans in Florida that were recovered from one of the homes. Each bird is worth $30,000 to $50,000 and will be returned today by airplane, he said.
"We're so glad we could help these people out and give them back their animals," he said.
Rosenthal's fennec fox, his beloved kinkajou "Wookie" and a couple of other priceless pets were returned by police.
Police said the alleged thieves, expected to be arraigned this afternoon, took the animals to exotic shows and schools for children's programs, while others were sold online.
Rosenthal said the two "jokers" converted an old ambulance into a traveling van for their shows, with blown-up photos on each side, including one shot of "Wookie."
Stinger Exotics on Plymouth Road in Livonia was reunited with some stolen reptiles. In July, thieves had taken about $50,000 worth of exotics from the shop.
Owner Hazel Kelley was ecstatic Tuesday when she got the call that some of her reptiles had been found, including Rupert, a savannah monitor lizard and the store mascot.
"He's a little beat up and lethargic and thin, but he's doing well," said Kelley, who moved her store to Livonia from Westland about a year ago.
Kelley said about $1,500 worth of the stolen reptiles have been recovered.
"They literally wiped out our entire store. We took a big hit, but thankfully we got these few back," she said, noting the return of a few frogs and tortoises.
Discount Pet & Supplies on Middle Belt said nearly 10 hand-raised birds were stolen from their shop in April. Only a couple of birds were returned.
"They weren't just our pets, they are our little family," said store manager Denise Billings. "It was gut-wrenching to us."
Dozens of cages and supplies also were taken from the store.
Police said they were apprehensive of going public with the burglaries sooner out of fear the animals would be killed.
If convicted, the suspects could face 10 years for each felony offense of breaking and entering a business. Additional charges for unrelated crimes including stolen property not related to animals are expected to come from Genesee County officials, Winn said.
You can reach Christine Ferretti at (734) 462-2289 or
cferretti@detnews.com.
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