In an area of the city like there are all kinds of smells that float around. The neighbors may have in fact smelled it, but not realized the source. Plus with it's own air system, and depending on how the exhaust fans go, it may have been blowing up and out, with not much at street level.

It's hard to watch a respected pillar of reptile keeping fall, but there is no doubt in my mind those pictures are real. It's a tough pill to swallow but it looks like the care claims are true.