AR-News: NY judge turns over ownership of 38 Exotic Animals

[ISPEAKInc at aol.com]

Please cross post -
 
International Society for the Protection of  Exotic Animal Kind and 
Livestock, Inc.
998-C Old Country Road, #  142,   Plainview, NY 11803  516  935-4607
 
_ispeakinc at aol.com_ (mailto:ispeakinc at aol.com) 

 

PRESS RELEASE -

6-29-04,  Marlboro, NY,  Town Judge turns over ownership 
of 38 Exotic Animals Rescued From Woman's Home.

MILTON, N.Y. - On  December 31, 2003,  Town animal warden
Jim Meyer, and Marlboro Town police, assisted by investigators 
from I-SPEAK, International Society for the Protection of Exotic
Animal Kind and Livestock, Inc. and the New York State
Humane Association rescued 39 exotic animals, including 
seven monkeys, a rat and four tortoises inside a two story
home.
 
Rescuers discovered the animals and an overwhelming stench
when they executed a search warrant at Linda Kastle's home in
Milton, NY.
.
The monkeys were taken to the Primate Rescue Center  in  
Kentucky, a licensed, accredited primate sanctuary where they
where treated by a veterinarian and transferred to a clean,
spacious enclosure. They had been found in separate cages,
without water, or proper environmental enhancement.  The 
cages did not even have usable ledges to get the primates 
out of the cage filth that had accumulated over the years. The 
rest of the animals were sent to animal shelters.

Ms. Kastles attorney had filed an appeal to prevent a required
posting of a security bond from the owner that would have been
very costly to her.  It would have covered the cost of the 
animals expected long term housing and medical expenses 
prior to a future trial.
 
The Appeals court had ruled against the owner who did not pay
the bond.  Yesterday the town judge turned over ownership of all
of the animals to the town.
 
The animals will now be assured of being kept in permanent,
and caring locations.  Ms. Kastle will still be facing  numerous 
animal cruelty charges. 

Just prior to this decision, a pending bill [S07616] banning  private
ownership of certain exotic animals in NY,  including primates, was 
passed by the New York State Senate, and is now  awaiting Governor
Pataki's signing of the bill into law.  
 
The bill, written by the ASPCA, was based on an I-SPEAK 
investigation of Long Island pet stores keeping monkeys in small
bird cages (a common practice).  An I-SPEAK veterinarian found a 
hydrated, sick, and shivering three week old Spider monkey that
had no bedding under an air conditioning duct.
 
USDA cited the store PETS, which is now under new ownership
and stopped selling primates, but the monkey was sold two  days
later and died shortly after.
 
See -
 
_http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?encquery=8BBF0CB4AF3CA6B52079CB7B2A98DD79
84AFC7391EA3453A&invocationType=keyword_rollover&ie=ISO-8859-1_ 
(http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?encquery=8BBF0CB4AF3CA6B52079CB7B2A98DD7984AFC7391EA345
3A&invocationType=keyword_rollover&ie=ISO-8859-1) 
 
_http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?invocationType=topsearchbox.%2Faol%2Fjsp%
2Fsearch.jsp&query=milton%2C+ny+monkeys_ 
(http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?invocationType=topsearchbox./aol/jsp/search.jsp&query=milton,+ny+monkeys) 
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