Humane Societies Consider Legal Action Against Arizona Breeder After 260 Adoptable Animals Fed to Reptiles

Animals Transferred for Adoption End up as Reptile Feed, Leading to Firing of Humane Society CEO and Resignation of COO

Two humane societies are considering legal action against an Arizona breeding company after as many as 260 small animals that were supposed to be placed for adoption were instead frozen and fed to reptiles at a metro Phoenix farm.
Due to overcrowding, the San Diego Humane Society asked the southern Arizona nonprofit chapter in July for help with finding homes for a large group of 'pocket pets' that included rabbits and guinea pigs.
323 small animals were transferred to Tucson and then Phoenix in August. They were supposed to be in the hands of a man who facilitated animal adoptions, but authorities said they wound up with his brother who operated the reptile farm.
62 small animals were returned after the Tucson agency began asking questions about the whereabouts of the others. They later learned about the breeder and that part of his business included selling both live and frozen animals for reptile feed.
The Humane Society of Southern Arizona fired its CEO last month and also accepted the resignation of its chief operating officer. Its board reportedly did not learn of the reptile farm owner’s involvement until weeks after the animal transfer.