Terry Cullen raided

[bsd13]

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

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.

[9Catsz]

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.

[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??

[Sariel]

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??

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

[joepythons]

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

[joepythons]

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.

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? I suggest everyone write the mayor at the email addy viperkeeper supplies and make him aware WE DO NOT like what happened to Terry .

[Sariel]

At this point till we hear more from Mr Cullen himself or the others directly involved I'd just like to offer my humble advice to those who choose to email Milwaukee's mayor. Alot of us have been sent enough letters to understand emotion and accusation get you no where even if you are in possession of all the facts. Please, please tread carefully with these letters because even as it looks suspicious and many people know and respect Mr Cullen we simply dont know right now. A bunch of angry letters from reptile enthusiasts could easily be turned to reflect poorly on us in this touchy situation.
Personally I'm going to wait to write anything to anyone untill I have more information on what actually happened.

[wilomn]

You know, that viperkeeper guy, is a load of crap.

He is no better than the guy who wanted to hang Terry from the get go. He has no facts, just more speculation.

There may or may not be charges coming, you notice he says "as far as we know, as far as is known," but makes no definitive statements.

He's also, instead of looking for reasons, fanning the flames over the dogs being killed. While that is a tragedy, it's not the main point of this confiscation.

I'll keep holding off on jumping on ANY bandwagon until there is something more than an email from someone saying something that no one can as yet verify.

Personally, if it were me, and that fat load of crap viperkeeper was vouching for me, I'd ask him to shut the heck up.

[wolfy-hound]

I hate to put it this way, because I would love to hear all charges were dropped.. but who is viperkeeper? Just some random guy on the internet? I admit, I didn't listen to his whole video, because frankly the long pauses were driving me batty and once he started about the "terrorist tactics" of the police serving the warrant, I quit listening. Right at the beginning when it shows him using a bare hand to open a venomous rack with a hot striking at him.. sorry! No watchy stupid hot keeper tricks!

Is he some authority? DId he quote a official source that we can confirm? If HE heard this from some official source, it should be available, right?

Wilomn, I'd rep point you, but I gotta spread some love first apparently. Agreed totally, I wouldn't want that guy on my side, just from the couple minutes I listened to.

[joepythons]

I hate to put it this way, because I would love to hear all charges were dropped.. but who is viperkeeper? Just some random guy on the internet? I admit, I didn't listen to his whole video, because frankly the long pauses were driving me batty and once he started about the "terrorist tactics" of the police serving the warrant, I quit listening. Right at the beginning when it shows him using a bare hand to open a venomous rack with a hot striking at him.. sorry! No watchy stupid hot keeper tricks!

Is he some authority? DId he quote a official source that we can confirm? If HE heard this from some official source, it should be available, right?

Wilomn, I'd rep point you, but I gotta spread some love first apparently. Agreed totally, I wouldn't want that guy on my side, just from the couple minutes I listened to.

He was quoteing a lady(forgot her name but its in the video) on info she sent him