[FEL-L] RE: NC - Endangered Animals Seized, Drugs Found Near Local Zoo

[Christopher Jr]

So is Steve closed down yet, did they take all or just some of his animals?
Chris Godino Jr.
Reptile Retreat
Boston, Ma.
USDA# 14-B-0039
Mobile# 617-947-0058
Fax# 617-244-2330
Shortfin12 at comcast.net


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bigcats10 at aol.com 
  To: phoenix_exotics at yahoogroups.com ; Felines-l at catbox.com 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 7:23 AM
  Subject: [FEL-L] RE: NC - Endangered Animals Seized,Drugs Found Near Local Zoo


  Endangered Animals Seized, Drugs Found Near Local Zoo

  POSTED: 4:37 pm EDT July 25, 2006
  UPDATED: 5:34 pm EDT July 25, 2006

  ROCKWELL, N.C. -- State and federal agents seized endangered animals from a local exotic animal park that was temporarily shut down. 

  Officials said they found drugs and guns inside the owner's home right near the children's exhibits at the Metrolina Wildlife Park. 

  Located in Rowan County, the park has venomous snakes, exotic birds, wolves, bears, and big cats including tigers and lions. There's also a petting zoo. 

  About 500 people visited the park in Rockwell just last week. 

  Undercover officers got a tip about some native wildlife being held illegally and executed a search warrant on Tuesday. 

  Investigators said the zoo owner, Steve Macaluso, did not have the proper permits for several box turtles, turkeys, snakes, a hawk and an owl, but while searching his home on the property, they also found guns, drugs and video poker machines. They hauled off the machines in a truck and seized the endangered animals. 

  Macaluso takes the blame for not knowing about the special permits required and said the drugs found were prescription sleeping pills and the guns were hunting rifles. As for the video machines, he said they're from New Jersey and have been in storage for years. 

  The park has been in the news many times before and the internet contains dozens of hits using the owner’s name. 

  He's been criticized by the animal rights group, PETA, who said he's been cited numerous times for unsafe handling of animals. 

  About 10 years ago, a chimpanzee escaped from the zoo for about a week and bit someone before it was re-captured. 
  Copyright 2006 by WSOCTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  http://www.wsoctv.com/news/9573557/detail.html



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