Terry Cullen raided

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Originally Posted by bsd13

An alligator isn't likely to chase down an officer. A dog defending it's home is very likely. Which means an alligator poses very little risk to life and limb in comparison with a dog in this kind of situation.

When it comes to self defense human limbs are always considered more valuable than animal life. The only exception that I'm aware of is a police k9 in the performance of official duties and following commands. Sucks but it's true.

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I'm sorry but i find this horrible. They had absolutely NO right killing those dogs. Unless it is life or death why did they have to barge in. And if they didn't barge in then why didn't the woman (sorry I forget er name) lock them up? Makes no sence to me.
You don't find it a tad bit suspicious that these dogs were living with a 4 foot alligator and getting along? News makes no sence, twists things around, not one to be trusted.
And in a case like this isn't it proper for the police to find absolutely any charge they can hold a person with so that they have a hold of them? So they can't run or get away? Hence the suspician of cruelty or w/e?
There's a lot of ways around it,(killing the dogs) we don't know half of the story. All we have to go on is half baked news reports.

The cops had a warrant which does indeed "allow them" to go barging in. That's what warrants do.. otherwise, cops would have to stand politely outside a suspect's home and hope he decided to come out nicely.
When the cops went in, if the two mastiffs were behaving in a aggressive manner, yes the cops are within their rights to shoot the dogs. While a lot of mastiffs are big sweethearts, some are protective, especially when a group of strangers comes running in. Again, the cops can't just say "Well, there's a couple 200 lb dogs here, we can't go get the guy we're arresting."
Not having been there, or seen video tape explicitly showing the confrontation, I can't say whether the cops paniced and shot the dogs or did so only when they felt truly threatened, but they do have that right to protect themselves when they are serving a warrant in the process of their sworn duties.

Whether the warrant was justified only falls on the judge and accusers, not the cops.

I believe the place they found all the animals was more than one story, so it's possible the alligator and the dogs were on seperate areas, with the alligator contained in some manner to a certain room or rooms.

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

The cops had a warrant which does indeed "allow them" to go barging in. That's what warrants do.. otherwise, cops would have to stand politely outside a suspect's home and hope he decided to come out nicely.
When the cops went in, if the two mastiffs were behaving in a aggressive manner, yes the cops are within their rights to shoot the dogs. While a lot of mastiffs are big sweethearts, some are protective, especially when a group of strangers comes running in. Again, the cops can't just say "Well, there's a couple 200 lb dogs here, we can't go get the guy we're arresting."
Not having been there, or seen video tape explicitly showing the confrontation, I can't say whether the cops panicked and shot the dogs or did so only when they felt truly threatened, but they do have that right to protect themselves when they are serving a warrant in the process of their sworn duties.

Whether the warrant was justified only falls on the judge and accusers, not the cops.

I believe the place they found all the animals was more than one story, so it's possible the alligator and the dogs were on seperate areas, with the alligator contained in some manner to a certain room or rooms.

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Thank you for that post. Everyone is crying and blaming the cops for killing those dogs and what they fail to see is they were not there and have no clue what happened. I've worked in narcotics control and have been charged at several times by dogs that were "total sweethearts" and I've been bitten before. If a dog charges you and you feel threatened human nature is to react, not wait and see if it's simply running up to lick you. Since I do really care about animals my first instinct is to reach for pepper foam, but I can't say that's always the case.

This whole thing is a terrible, terrible event and I do hope the facts get sorted out in the end. I can say that I am willing to bet my pay check there are MANY, MANY facts, charges and claims the general public has no knowledge of in this case.

However, if the warrant had ANYTHING to do with animal welfare at all, then shooting the dogs was 100% inappropriate.

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Originally Posted by WingedWolfPsion

However, if the warrant had ANYTHING to do with animal welfare at all, then shooting the dogs was 100% inappropriate.

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The warrant had nothing to do with any animals whatsoever for any reason as far as anyone knows. It was a search warrant for that location in connection with some kind of sexual assault. Animals had nothing to do with the warrant.

They accuse Terry of animal abuse and they're going to kill every last reptile they have confiscated. Did you watch the video of when they were taking the animals? Everyone had coats on and they were loading the reptiles into the back of a big truck...No heat for them. Most of them probably are already in the first stages of respiratory infection.

New article:

MPD defends its care of exotic animals

By Ryan Haggerty of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May 19, 2010 |(63) Comments

The Milwaukee police lieutenant leading the investigation into last week's discovery of more than 250 reptiles found living in squalid conditions said Wednesday that the animals are being kept in safe locations and are receiving proper care.

The man who was responsible for the animals, Terry Cullen, said in an interview Tuesday that he had been told most of the animals are being kept in unheated city garages. He said cold weather can harm the animals.

"To me, the utter cruelty is beyond belief," Cullen said of the treatment of the animals since they were discovered.

"It's a patent lie," police Lt. Paul Felician said of Cullen's comments. "It's not true. (The animals) are in much better condition than they were when we (found) them."

Most of the animals, ranging from boa constrictors and anacondas to alligators and crocodiles, were found last week in a house in the 3400 block of S. 17th St. and a building at 2323 S. 13th St.

Hundreds of mice and rats blanketed the basement floor of the building, where more than 200 of the animals were kept, according to a police report released last week.

Most of the animals were kept in tanks or horse troughs, according to police and others who were inside the building. Many animals were unable to turn around because the containers in which they were kept were too small and filled with waste, according to an arrest report released last week.

"Dead animal carcasses were in close proximity to live animals, and animal waste was observed throughout the residence," according to the report. Mold and fungus were growing "on a vast majority of the animals," the report says.

Felician said all the animals have been cleaned and have been well-fed since they were removed from the house and building. Reptile experts from area zoos and other institutions have examined all the animals, he said.

No animals have died since they were removed, and the animals that were in the worst shape are beginning to improve, Felician said. Authorities hope to find safe, permanent homes for the animals, he said.

"We want to make sure that they go to places that can appropriately care for them," Felician said.

Police have not said where the animals are being kept because they consider the animals to be evidence. However, three crocodiles and an alligator snapping turtle are being housed temporarily at the Racine Zoo.

The building on S. 13th St. where most of the animals were found is listed in tax records as the location of a nonprofit organization called Cullen Vivarium Wildlife Conservancy Inc.

Cullen is listed in the tax records as the organization's president and director. His girlfriend, Jane E. Flint, is listed as the organization's secretary and treasurer.

Flint, 50, was arrested May 12 on suspicion of mistreating animals and violating regulations regarding endangered or threatened species. She was released Friday from the Milwaukee County Jail after posting $15,000 bail, according to jail records. She has not been charged.

Cullen has not been arrested. He said in an interview Tuesday that he is in the Milwaukee area, but police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said investigators do not know where Cullen is.

Cullen has not contacted police, Schwartz said.

Prosecutors could begin reviewing the case later this week, Milwaukee County Deputy District Attorney Kent Lovern said.

The case began last week when officers investigating a sexual assault complaint found the reptiles at the house on S. 17th St., which is owned by Flint, and the building on S. 13th St.

Officers shot and killed two dogs while executing a search warrant at one of the addresses, Schwartz said.

Police haven't identified the target of the sexual assault investigation.

The investigation into the reptiles spread to a third location Monday, when police found the carcasses of an alligator and a snake in a house in the 3300 block of S. Kinnickinnic Ave. that is listed in court records as Cullen's residence.

Search warrants executed during the investigation have been sealed.

Cullen said Tuesday that he has devoted his life to animal conservation. He has kept reptiles for years, has spoken at conventions for people who keep reptiles and has consulted with several local agencies that work with reptiles, including the Wisconsin Humane Society.

call me blonde but this doesn't make sense....

Flint, 50, was arrested May 12 on suspicion of mistreating animals and violating regulations regarding endangered or threatened species. She was released Friday from the Milwaukee County Jail after posting $15,000 bail, according to jail records. She has not been charged.


How can you be arrested on suspicion of mistreating animals and yada yada....have to post bail....but yet not be charged with anything. I can see be taken in for questioning....but why do you have to post bail when you have not been charged??

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Originally Posted by BPelizabeth

call me blonde but this doesn't make sense....

Flint, 50, was arrested May 12 on suspicion of mistreating animals and violating regulations regarding endangered or threatened species. She was released Friday from the Milwaukee County Jail after posting $15,000 bail, according to jail records. She has not been charged.


How can you be arrested on suspicion of mistreating animals and yada yada....have to post bail....but yet not be charged with anything. I can see be taken in for questioning....but why do you have to post bail when you have not been charged??

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Ive been debating that myself as well. I always thought you had to be charged for those events to take place.

Ok i had this video sent to me from utube.It seems they DROPPED ALL CHARGES on the lady they arrested and NO charges are being sought on Terry.So here it is from viperkeeper. YouTube - Terry Cullen.mpg

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Originally Posted by bsd13

The warrant had nothing to do with any animals whatsoever for any reason as far as anyone knows. It was a search warrant for that location in connection with some kind of sexual assault. Animals had nothing to do with the warrant.

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Well the warrant was bogus in my opinion now.Since the video i supplied confirms that NO charges either sexual nor animal cruelty are being sought against ANYONE.So now what do you have to say? :rolleyes: I suggest everyone write the mayor at the email addy viperkeeper supplies and make him aware WE DO NOT like what happened to Terry :mad:.