OHS seizes 169 animals from pet store accused of neglect

PORTLAND, Ore. - A massive raid was carried out on an Oregon Coast pet store Wednesday and about 170 animals were seized after months of complaints about possible animal neglect.

The kinds of animals seized included puppies, birds, rodents and fish. They were taken from Circus World Pets in Newport and brought to the Oregon Humane Society in Portland in three vans.

According to the Oregon Humane Society, the owners of the pet store had been warned for four months to take better care of the animals but didn't listen.

"In working with the owners trying to resolve it but unable to do that, and so for the life and health of these animals we served a search warrant and we seized them today," said David Lytle with the Oregon Humane Society.

The Oregon Humane Society said it got numerous tips about the rotten conditions at the store, which was especially upsetting for investigators.

"They should know how to care for their pets," said Wendy Reimer, a Humane Society investigator. "They're trying to educate the public on how to have this pet in their home, so they should know proper husbandry, proper diet, what that pet needs to thrive and survive."

All the pets will get checked out, cleaned up and given some extra attention.

But the animals won't be up for adoption anytime soon, because they're considered evidence until the case is sorted out in court.

The pet store owners can relinquish the animals. The Oregon Humane Society said the owners may consider it once they find out how expensive it will be for the animals to be cared for at the Humane Society.

The owners of the pet store would only say they've done nothing wrong and are just being harassed.