As reported by Channel 7's KPLC news, two people operating a snake breeding business in Oakdale Louisiana have been arrested.
David Beauchemin and Tawni Beauchemin-Eddy, owners of High End Herps, Inc., are in jail facing possible animal cruelty charges as suspicions from authorities grew as to whether the owners were feeding caged animals to the hungry snakes. (Please note that the photos on the web site are nothing like the conditions found at this residency.)
Twenty one of the 250 snakes found measured over 12 feet in length and have been removed because they were not properly permitted.
Assisted by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and a state herpetologist, the Louisiana Association of Reptile Keepers, Inc. (Louisiana ARK) have taken the large snakes to their facility.
"This is the worst case of animal abuse I've ever witnessed," said Joe Lewis, President of Louisiana ARK. "How can anyone live this way and call themselves human? We will continue to fight for our reptile friends and do what we can to help make everyone aware of proper care for them," he said.
Lewis expressed his concern over rescuers who could "discount all the reptiles as non-animals when it comes to suffering. True, dogs and cats are important but shouldn't all animals' suffering be equally as important. It broke our heart to see how horrible those animals have and will continue to suffer but we could do nothing more legally," he said.
Lewis said he and his wife, Joy, and friends, would like to work together to rescue the animals left there, which he said included chickens and stray cats, as well as many other snakes.
Investigators were able to enter the residency after a criminal complaint was filed by a woman who surrendered her Doberman to Tawni Beauchemin-Eddy who claimed she operated a "safe haven" for unwanted pets.
After seeing the dog for sale on-line, the woman filed the complaint.
More Info: Several postings on the Baton Rouge pets craigslist stated warnings of a woman operating Happy Hounds Rescue, whose web site has been taken down. Apparently, Tawni Beauchemin-Eddy, one of the owners of High End Herps, Inc. also took unwanted pets from owners promising them a "safe haven" at Happy Hounds Rescue.
My 2 cents: It is my hope that this will serve as a warning to all those who post pets on craigslist because they can no longer care for them or have picked them up as strays. Take precautions. Check references. And, if possible, do home visits.
Comments
It is due to people like this, the irresponsible, that give reptile owners a bad name. It is also the fuel for government regulation and ban of beautiful species of reptiles that responsible owners can never have. David and Tawni, thanks jerks...
I'm confused.... they were under suspicion for feeding caged animals to the snakes? Don't all animals fed to snakes come from a cage?!?!?! Were those caged animals cats or dogs? If so, who gets to decide that are any more important or less likely prey candidates than the rabbits, rats, mice and chickens that everyone knows are being fed to snakes! In actuality, I don't see anywhere in the article that adresses exactly what was being done on the premises that was considered inhumane! If kept in inhumane conditions, wouldn't they have all been confiscated? In fact, it states that only the larger snakes were confiscated because they were not properly permitted! Could this be just another case of prejudiced reporting against owners of exotic animals? I'm not saying there was no abuse going on here, but articles like this only serve to perpetuate what i consider to be unfair laws against owning exotics. Once all exotics are banned are they going to start goin after domestic animals such as
all states have rules regarding large snakes, mostly agianst owning reptiles over 8', since they consider anything that fits in its mouth prey. therefore they frown on anything big enough to eat a small child, much less a dog or cat.
Place is a disaster and total disgrace. I'm from that town and the Beauchemin's (If that's even their real name) are irresponsible and a disgrace to reputable reptile owners. Place is filthy and disgusting. Hope they throw them in prison and shut that terrible place down. So no, this is not just another prejudiced case against exotic animal owners. This is real.
My apologies Jstens. At the time of writing, the authorities had asked the couple to surrender ALL the animals and they refused. Therefore, they must proceed with legal action in order to be able to remove the remaining animals. The snakes, according to rescuers, were in very poor, unsanitary conditions, some starving. Very inhumane to any living creatures. I thought the quotes from Mr. Lewis on fighting for "reptile friends" and their proper care showed no prejudice. That's why I wrote it. Thank you for your comments.
Im from Oakdale, Louisiana and I lived near these people. These people are so weird and odd. They never left that place and went anywhere that I saw of anyways. They bought a trailer and made it home to all of the snakes and they sleep outside while the snake were inside. There is a strong odor around their property. The pictures on their website are nothing like where they are. They was feeding their snakes people dogs and cats. Animals were going missing constantly. If you went anywhere near their property they would come out of no where and tell you "this is private property you have no reason to be over here now go." These people are really weird. Sometimes you could pass and see the bright colored snakes crawling around in the yard. Strang People.
I know it is the trend to say something detrimental about someone on the web and so many people do because there is no accountability, but people like Hailey are true ignoramuses. Apparently she knew these weirdos were feeding pets to the reptiles and did nothing but be freaked out about them. Thanks to people like Hailey, so afraid of their neighbors, that she perpetuates crimes and really, in this case, a real evil. Is your neighborhood better now? Never claim to be an animal lover Hailey. Wouldn't be surprised if you claim to be a member of PETA.
I called the sherrif in Oakdale last year after I felt uneasy about surrendering three cats that I was caring for for an elderly friend that died. They have had suspicions about these people for some time now and did not have enouogh evidence to arrest them or get a search warrant. The were operating a sham under happy hounds rescue, offering a safe haven for unwated pets...they were feeding them to the snakes. This makes me ill and I hope they get a stiff sentance for what they have put pets through.
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