Nearly 19,000 animals killed by city after PETA sparks animal cruelty raid
By Jeff Barringer · December 20, 2012 9:31 pm
I don't know what's worse, frankly: the appalling conditions that Global Captive Breeders owner Mitch Behm allegedly kept his animals in, or their fate after the raid made by authorities and animal rights groups, ostensibly "for the animals' protection."
According to an article in today's Sacramento Bee, Behm surrendered all his animals to authorities, and 18,000 rodents and 600 reptiles were "euthanized" as the "most humane option."
Certainly many of the animals, especially the reptiles, could have been placed into the hands of the many rescue organizations geared specifically for treating and caring for surrendered, abandoned, neglected or confiscated reptiles across the U.S. This safety network has long been in place and has been supported by the community for over 20 years, and certainly dozens, if not hundreds, of the reptiles could have and should have been saved.
"A team of veterinarians, reptile specialists and animal cruelty experts determined that because of extreme neglect, cruelty and dangerously unhealthy conditions, euthanasia was the safest and most humane option."
While the article specifically states over 18,000 rodents and 600 reptiles were euthanized, it neglects to mention - how many were saved?
How many of those animals confiscated by authorities survived the raid and were placed into the rescue system?
How much time was actually spent, by experts, examining each of the 18,000+ animals to see which ones could be saved?
Did every single animal die?
Did every single animal have to die?
If someone knows the answers, please tell us.
These are questions we should all be asking. And we should be asking the City of Lake Elsinore. Because they killed those animals. 18,000 of them. Not Mitch Behm.
Lake Elsinore City Hall
130 South Main St.
Lake Elsinore, CA 92530
Phone: (951) 674-3124
Fax: (951) 674-2392
Email: cityhall@lake-elsinore.org




