Bad Guy Captive Born Reptiles - Columbus, Ohio

[Kytten]

About a year after I moved to Ohio, I found this place.. At the time, it seemed nice - However, I was only in the front section of the shop.

I recently visited, again, as I'm collecting info on breeds and morphs, and wanted to see the selection they have before I choose a breeder and get my first slithery baby....


The conditions I saw made my stomach turn :
- Tanks with bright lights and no apparent heating sources (Ambient temp was around 70) [I watched the guy who was on staff put a new python back into her tank, and there was nothing under it]
- No gauges to monitor humidity or temperature, even of the general store
- About 3-4 30- or 50-gallon tanks with 4-6 BPs each
- A tank with what looked like 9-10 eel-looking snakes (can't remember the breed) stuffed into one hide, [A medium-sized hamster igloo - The snakes were each a couple feet long, at least] to the point of not being able to move
- Severely unclean tanks
- Most tanks had no hides at all
- Snakes that were so skinny they looked like they hadn't eaten in a year
- 4-5 snakes that were stargazing
- A couple of lizards that were being sold strictly as a mating pair -- One of which had a big sore on it's back, was covered in crickets, and looked near or at death's door
- A plastic tub sitting out on the counter [For people to touch and look at, I assume] populated by juvenile mice and half-dead pinkies (A bit inhumane, if you ask me.. Either kill it so it doesn't suffer or feed it right away, don't let it starve to death)
- Alligators [Or maybe crocs, whichever one is the most common, I'm sure] left to roam around the store unsupervised, without any warning to customers
- Deterioration of sanitary conditions as you move towards the back of the store
- Signs posted up around the store [Seen by my partner, not by me, so I am not certain exactly what they said or how many signs they were] that said something along the lines of "No pictures: You will be asked to delete any you take"
- A sign on the outside of the store that said "Keep your laws off our pets"


That's just a list of the most notable things... There were a handful of others that I wasn't sure about and don't quite remember.


Being a newbie to the world of reptiles, I know that I could be misreading things, (I can be super paranoid) but I have been doing a lot of research and talking with / reading through conversations between other herpers. As far as I'm concerned, any one of the things I've listed above is enough to call them out on it and make them change.

This place is supposed to be run by reputable breeders -- Their site says "Captive Born Reptiles is one of the nation's largest retailers of captive born reptiles and amphibians. As a breeder of reptiles for over 30 years, we have quality animals as well as a full line of reptile and amphibian care products, including caging, lighting, bedding, books, and live or frozen mice, rats, and rabbits." You would think they would know enough to keep their reptiles' husbandry taken care of properly.

However, I'm also a newbie to the world of law, and I have no ideas on how to go about getting these guys to clean up their acts. I have a friend who is going to help me research actual reputable breeders, nearby, that I can talk about this with (She also lead me to this site, to check out any reviews from other people, on this place, and ask some questions); and I have plans to call animal control to at least have someone go down there and check it out, should that take a while, but I would like to get a few more opinions on the situation.



Thanks in advance,
Kytten

 

[Casey Hulse]

We were in there about 12 years ago, all I can truly remember is a very foul smell, and a big cage with some large anacondas, the only waterdish/soaking tank had what looked like very watery diarrhea in it, and the was a semi dry crust over the surface.
It is a shame that conditions have not improved yet, also very hard to believe they have not been shut down.
It seems like Ohio is in the forefront of leading exotic animal ordinances, yet not 1 animal control has told them to clean their shop up?

I hate to think of what harm they could do to the industry if someone (peta-ish)does sneak some video and put it up on social media.
Maybe "one of the good guys" could sneak some video, and use it to threaten the owners to clean up, before it is too late.
Look at the uproar the dirty cages caused at "Big Daddies Wholesale"
I am not sure if he still has a store front?

 

[JColt]

Here is another link to same business. It was closed because title of thread was incorrect but is the same Captive Born Reptiles

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=544269&highlight=Captive+Born+Reptiles

 

[Kytten]

Yeah, I've seen a couple of threads about them and from what I've read everyone on here who has been there has the same opinion of them...


The question is: How do I go about getting them shut down or at least start the process?

 

[Kytten]

I am not sure if he still has a store front?

What do you mean?

 

[JColt]

Yeah he's still open. Here is story from first of the month at his Cincinnati store

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/10/05/animal-store-owner-crushed-python/73396696/

 

[Pasodama]

Yeah he's still open. Here is story from first of the month at his Cincinnati store

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/10/05/animal-store-owner-crushed-python/73396696/

That incident occurred at his Newport, KY store.
He does not have a cincinnati store.
Only has two locations. Columbus, OH and Newport, KY.

....

 

[Black Adder]

That incident occurred at his Newport, KY store.
He does not have a Cincinnati store.
Only has two locations. Columbus, OH and Newport, KY.

....

Cincinnati/Newport...same store, a lot of people refer to it as Cincinnati as I am sure they hardly know the difference, heck Delta does not as it refers to Cincinnati airport even though in Kentucky...lol
Yes I know its is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky but you get my drift, it would certainly be picked up on by Cincinnati news teams for sure and they just generalise it.

 

[Kytten]

So ... What should be done about it?

Do I contact animal control?
Do I find a reptile vet?
Do I get a legit breeder to go in and take a look?

 

[Kytten]

Also, how would I go about keeping tabs on one of the animals, if they do get shutdown?

 

[Pasodama]

Cincinnati/Newport...same store, a lot of people refer to it as Cincinnati as I am sure they hardly know the difference, heck Delta does not as it refers to Cincinnati airport even though in Kentucky...lol
Yes I know its is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky but you get my drift, it would certainly be picked up on by Cincinnati news teams for sure and they just generalise it.

Sorry, I am a factual based person.
Newport, KY is not the same as Cincinnati, OH. That is fact.

I am dropping this, now, and moving on.

....

 

[Pasodama]

Erica, when it comes to animal welfare, it generally falls with animal control.

....

 

[LauraB]

Or perhaps the city/county Health Department. Here, the retail pet stores are also inspected by the county Health Department to insure they comply.

 

[MissFirefly]

Erica, when it comes to animal welfare, it generally falls with animal control.

....

This isn't the case in Massachusetts and each state handles it differently. Here, pet stores are inspected by a division of the Department of Agriculture.

Tried searching on Ohio's government site to see which Department is responsible for pet store's but can't seem to find a definitive answer but their Department of Agriculture has an Animal Health Division so wouldn't hurt to contact them and determine who you need to speak to in regards to this matter.

 

[Pasodama]

Lauren, You are correct. Not everywhere is the same. Not even my area, of Ohio, vs. the rest of Ohio.
Also, you are on the right track.
I looked into it and, for pet stores & the like, the place to report those particular entities, in all of Ohio, is the Department of Agriculture.

In Ohio (my area) animal control used to be under, or with, the (in)Humane Society but is, now, under/with Law Enforcement.
Law Enforcement, anywhere, is one place to report cases of animal abuse/cruelty, re. any animals, since it falls under a lawful crime.
However, it probably would be best to go direct, to another authority, rather than local LE, who deals in these cases (which could differ by state/county). Especially if pet stores, certain breeding facilities, etc.
I do recognize that my previous response may have been too "automatic" (think "knee jerk"), on my part, without certain considerations or explanations and, also, only using the word "generally".

....

 

[JColt]

That incident occurred at his Newport, KY store.
He does not have a cincinnati store.
Only has two locations. Columbus, OH and Newport, KY.

....

All of the papers state Cincinnati, However I'm not familiar with that area at all. Probably like the BroadRipple/Indianapolis area. It's BroadRipple but Indianapolis also, lol.

 

[Black Adder]

All of the papers state Cincinnati, However I'm not familiar with that area at all. Probably like the BroadRipple/Indianapolis area. It's BroadRipple but Indianapolis also, lol.

Cincinnati is one side of the river Newport is on the other side
Its just the press generalising it.
Probably more sensational to them to state Cincinnati, Ohio which a lot of people have heard of rather than Newport, Kentucky.

 

[bcr229]

Even after finding the correct agency that would regulate pet stores, there is another challenge to overcome. The people who do inspections are probably uneducated about the correct husbandry practices for reptiles and other exotic species. In my area I would report violations to Animal Control, and while the ACO's know the requirements for pets and livestock, when there is an issue with a snake (usually a wild one that is in someone's garage, much to the consternation of the homeowner) the caller is given our number.

However, since I'm not an ACO I can't go to the pet stores in my area and note violations, and I know no one at Animal Control can pick them out either. The state/county doesn't have minimum standards for keeping exotic animals, such as we have for livestock, and whether the state should set such standards is a whole other discussion.

 

[Pasodama]

Melinda, you are also correct.
I have heard of, knew of, and know of authority figures who are woefully uneducated about some things.
We can only hope that anything reported falls into the lap of someone "in the know" and willing to act upon something in the appropriate manner (whether a report is justified or is unjustified).

....

 

[aero_eng]

I saw this thread today 11/11/15. My experience. I called 10/23 asking if they had uromastyx. I was told they had a breeding pair of yellow Saharan uro, $250 which they knew it was priced high but they were proven. Female had 13 eggs in past. I live 1.5hrs away so I asked for a pic. I was interested but wanted photo first. Sales lady told me if she sent pics to everyone who called or emailed she'd be taking pics all day. I was surprised by her unprofessional attitude. The next day I spoke to another uro owner who had visited the store and saw the uros in person. He said he was shocked how sickly they looked and confirmed it wasn't worth my time. He was told female laid infertile eggs. I realize Saharan uros are difficult to breed. However, I feel "proven" was misleading. Sad to read this thread. Maybe this is same breeding pair lizards mentioned in op.