After 26 years, it appears that Reptile World will meet its end.
Dave Bethel, owner of Reptile World tells the Mail that the Alberta SPCA has returned his facility back to him, but have taken away any hope it will reopen, seizing more than 140 animals.
"They turned the building over to us and gave us a seizure notice for some of the animals. They also gave us an ultimatum to sign over the ones that are remaining," said Bethel. "Realistically there are not many left, they took 142 reptiles and amphibians. Basically they took everything except the venomous and the crocodiles. They even took 500 mice."
Bethel says he has 10 days to request that the animals be given back, but he believes there is a slim chance they would be returned. At this point, he says all they have told him is that charges would be pending.
The Alberta SPCA executed a search warrant at Reptile World last Wednesday. Since then, vehicles from the Calgary Humane Society and Alberta Fish and Wildlife were observed on site.
"They have Alberta Fish and Wildlife involved and they are saying they will not be renewing my zoo permit. So right now Reptile World is closed and realistically there is less than a 1 percent chance we'll reopen."
He says he is planing on talking to his lawyers.
"They can't say after all these years, and all the inspections suddenly we are doing everything wrong," he said, adding that even if the animals are returned, his main concern is to make sure they are given suitable homes.
