Highland pet shop raided in search of huge gator

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BY LAURI HARVEY KEAGLE
lkeagle@nwitimes.com
219.852.4311 | Wednesday, November 07, 2007 | (11 comment(s))

HIGHLAND | State conservation officers are seeking charges against a Highland pet shop owner accused of providing veterinary services without a license and possessing a 9.5-foot, 350-pound alligator without proper permits.

No charges have been filed against the owner and he has not been accused of committing any crimes. Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Shawn Brown said the pet store is able to continue operations as usual.

According to Brown, conservation officers received a tip that the owner let the huge alligator roam the store freely after business hours. State records showed the man had never been issued a license to possess a dangerous reptile.

During the course of that investigation, officers learned he may be administering veterinary services without a veterinarian's license.

Two undercover conservation officers brought a 3.5-foot alligator to the shop Monday to see if the owner would provide veterinary services for the animal. The man allegedly told the officers he was "a reptile veterinarian, a herpetologist and a reptile specialist," before examining the alligator for a $20 fee, police said.

The shop owner allegedly told police he could provide medications and treatment for the animal as well.

According to police, the man told the undercover officers he had a 9.5-foot, 250-pound alligator he lets roam the store at night, saying he uses the crocodilian as an "attack alligator" for the store. He allegedly went on to tell the officers he has to retrain the female alligator each morning with a muzzle and remove her with

Armed with a search warrant, conservation officers raided the shop Tuesday afternoon in search of the alligator, but did not find the animal.

"What I think probably happened was (the owner) was just bragging about it, but didn't really have it," Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Shawn Brown said.

During the course of the raid, officers also seized records indicating the man provided veterinary services without proper licensing.

Indiana law prohibits a person possessing a dangerous reptile without a dangerous reptile permit. A dangerous reptile is defined as a venomous snake or a crocodilian that is at least 5 feet long. A violation of the law is considered a Class C misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in prison and a $500 fine.

Practicing veterinary medicine without a license is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Brown said no charges had been filed against the owner in connection with the raid, but the Indiana Department of Conservation's Special Investigative Session is planning to seek charges through the attorney general's office and the state Board of Animal Health.

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Gators are for eatin' wrote on Nov 8, 2007 12:12 AM:

" Who in their right mind would want an alligator or poisonous snake for a pet. These people are sick and need to be locked up at the stupid farm. I'll take thae gator off his hands... would make for a lot of good eatin' "

see ya later alligator wrote on Nov 7, 2007 3:35 PM:

" Looks like this pet store owner could use some Gator-Aid but I think this whole story is just a crock :) "

Dewey Cheatum wrote on Nov 7, 2007 3:14 PM:

" Who cares...do something more sophisticated with your cop job rather than look for appropriate licenses. This is something that would go on in a town with 100 people in it. Nothing like hard earned tax money paying some jamoke to bust a guy with an inappropriate license. HAHA! You wonder why people disrespect our finest...case in point. "

Clamp It wrote on Nov 7, 2007 2:14 PM:

" To: “….have anything better to do”. You need to brush up on your understanding of the different branches of law enforcement. DNR Conservation Officers, or what we affectionately call “Conversation Officers”, do not right handedly deal with murderers rapists or drug dealers in this country. They are trained to uphold the law of permit able hunting/fishing and people who harbor dangerous animals unlawfully. They protect wildlife and natural resources, ie Department of Natural Resources “Conservation” Officer. A 300lb. alligator is great for show and tell, until someone gets eaten. Just as in the case last year of the man’s cougar who escaped and ate the 3 yr. old neighbor kid. Not to mention, this moron is impersonating a veterinarian. "

JDub wrote on Nov 7, 2007 1:38 PM:

" G Davis, the reason why it is illegal for him to treat animals is because he is not trained like a licensed vet. It is better for the animal to get help from a person who worked their butt off studying in college and doing it the right way. And animals that are hunted for meat are probably way better off than the animals that provide the meat for grocery stores. It's a natural thing for animals to be hunted...has been for thousands of years. "

SD` wrote on Nov 7, 2007 11:55 AM:

" Mr Davis The so called animal cruelty you are saying are in those vidoes at Cabela's is Bull. They do not just hunt for the fun of it. They eat the meat. SO take your so called love for animals and stick it. "

Don't you have anything better to do??? wrote on Nov 7, 2007 11:19 AM:

" This is completely ridiculous, isn't there hmmmm..... murders, rape, and drugs that these people could be investigation not this. I grew up in Griffith and loved going over to this shop to see this animal as I'm sure a lot of people do!!! Wake up, and focus on things that matter!!!! "

I've seen it there. wrote on Nov 7, 2007 11:03 AM:

" I was in this place looking at lizards, and I saw some other reptiles about a foot long. I said to the woman working there, "Wow, those look like alligators" to which she replied, "They are alligators." I asked how big they get, and she said they can get up to about 8 feet long, maybe more, and told me it was legal to own them, and they had sold several to local residents. (!!!) Then I noticed in the back behind a baby gate, there was an alligator as described in the article above- had to be about 300 lbs and over 8 feet long, just resting on the floor in the employees-only area. And yes, it was alive- it was breathing, moving...I could not believe it. I did believe her that it was legal, but I got my child out of there and we left. What a sad life this beast has, or the ones they have sold that are probably living in someones dark basement, or being sold on sticks at the carnival. "

former customer wrote on Nov 7, 2007 10:12 AM:

" This guy is a complete moron! I once saw him have his hand bit by one of his animals and freak out. "

Saw it wrote on Nov 7, 2007 9:58 AM:

" I was in the store one time a year ot two back. I saw the alligator then and was told the same thing. My guess is the alligator got to big to keep in the store but telling the store sure will keep anyone away who might be thinking of robbing the place. "

G Davis wrote on Nov 7, 2007 9:34 AM:

" In the days of everybody trying to Kill animals so what if He tries to help an alligator or a snake? and if the snake dies what choice did it have anyway, I can see the problem with a 10 foot alligator but all this is a waste of money, why isn't this loser out trying to find the guys out killing wildlife drunk and then laughing about it? I guess as long as you buy the license thats ok! you wan't to see real animal cruelty go to Cabelas and watch the hunting videos, they are worse than anything you will see on TV "

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