brandy pup
05-16-05, 03:13 PM 05-16-05
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14520588&BRD=1719&PAG=461&dept_id=25271&rfi=6
A mall employee said Alton Square management took control of the now-closed Pampered Pets store space; the employee declined further comment. She referred further questions to a spokesman at Simon Property Group Inc.’s corporate offices in Indianapolis, who were not available for comment. Simon owns the shopping center.
A woman working at a nearby store said Pampered Pets had been open through Wednesday but thatits metal gates remained pulled down Thursday until about 3 p.m., when an employee came to feed the animals. Attempts to call the store Thursday resulted in a message that the telephone line had been disconnected.
At the outset of the investigation, police strung crime scene tape across the entrance to the store. Mall security opened the shop’s security gate only far enough to allow access by authorized personnel. Police were investigating whether the store’s security camera was operating and whether any money or store goods might be missing.
In the meantime, staff from the nonprofit Alton Area Animal Aid Association on the scene said they would feed and care for the dozens of birds, rodents, kittens, puppies and reptiles, as well as a hedgehog and rabbit, at the second-floor shop until other provisions are made.
"What have they been eating?" 5A’s employee Amy Crane wondered aloud as she surveyed the assemblage of critters in the rear room. "A lot of the animals don’t have proper food."
The 5A’s people said some animals were ill, had not been fed or were not fed properly.
One of the women said two of the animals -- a Savan monster and Tokay gecko -- are poisonous and should not be sold as pets.
Workers said some animals were not contained properly.
James Greer, Alton assistant chief of animal control, said inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to come to the store today. He said he would await the results of their investigation before issuing any citations for fire, building code, health or animal control ordinance violations. But he pointed out several violations as he walked through the shop.
"This is filthy," Greer said. "Nothing is in compliance with anything."
He called the front part of the store "dirty" and the cramped rear storage room "filthy." The back room reeked of animal urine, the stench emanating from jammed cages and glass aquariums that house active jumping mice of all colors, guinea pigs and other small critters.
A terrified hedgehog shook in fear as it tried to hide in a cardboard box from the strangers crowding the back room, but the animal could fit in only its head and part of its rotund body.
Spilled rodent food littered the floor of the back room. Crane opened a plastic bin of green pellet rodent food that wiggled slightly from its infestation of fat, yellow maggots.
At the front, public area of the store, a curled yellow boa constrictor in a glass aquarium was ill, Greer said.
In the front windows of Pampered Pets, four tiny, fluffy, lively kittens chased each other and performed usual cat stunts around a larger cat, perhaps their mother. Five black puppies romped in the other front display case, also oblivious to the human activity in the store.
Alton Assistant Fire Chief Mike Harvey said firefighters were called to Alton Square in the event they were needed to gain access to the store with its Knox Box lock box key. Mall security had keys, though, he said, but firefighters also were there to look for any fire code violations.
Greer pointed to a stack of bags filled with shredded paper and pieces of metal by a rear stairwell that he said were blocking an exit and in violation of fire codes.
At the same time, city inspector Pat Williams used a flashlight to look for building and safety code violations. Also on the scene was Phil Roggio, Alton director of development and housing.
A mall employee said Alton Square management took control of the now-closed Pampered Pets store space; the employee declined further comment. She referred further questions to a spokesman at Simon Property Group Inc.’s corporate offices in Indianapolis, who were not available for comment. Simon owns the shopping center.
A woman working at a nearby store said Pampered Pets had been open through Wednesday but thatits metal gates remained pulled down Thursday until about 3 p.m., when an employee came to feed the animals. Attempts to call the store Thursday resulted in a message that the telephone line had been disconnected.
At the outset of the investigation, police strung crime scene tape across the entrance to the store. Mall security opened the shop’s security gate only far enough to allow access by authorized personnel. Police were investigating whether the store’s security camera was operating and whether any money or store goods might be missing.
In the meantime, staff from the nonprofit Alton Area Animal Aid Association on the scene said they would feed and care for the dozens of birds, rodents, kittens, puppies and reptiles, as well as a hedgehog and rabbit, at the second-floor shop until other provisions are made.
"What have they been eating?" 5A’s employee Amy Crane wondered aloud as she surveyed the assemblage of critters in the rear room. "A lot of the animals don’t have proper food."
The 5A’s people said some animals were ill, had not been fed or were not fed properly.
One of the women said two of the animals -- a Savan monster and Tokay gecko -- are poisonous and should not be sold as pets.
Workers said some animals were not contained properly.
James Greer, Alton assistant chief of animal control, said inspectors from the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to come to the store today. He said he would await the results of their investigation before issuing any citations for fire, building code, health or animal control ordinance violations. But he pointed out several violations as he walked through the shop.
"This is filthy," Greer said. "Nothing is in compliance with anything."
He called the front part of the store "dirty" and the cramped rear storage room "filthy." The back room reeked of animal urine, the stench emanating from jammed cages and glass aquariums that house active jumping mice of all colors, guinea pigs and other small critters.
A terrified hedgehog shook in fear as it tried to hide in a cardboard box from the strangers crowding the back room, but the animal could fit in only its head and part of its rotund body.
Spilled rodent food littered the floor of the back room. Crane opened a plastic bin of green pellet rodent food that wiggled slightly from its infestation of fat, yellow maggots.
At the front, public area of the store, a curled yellow boa constrictor in a glass aquarium was ill, Greer said.
In the front windows of Pampered Pets, four tiny, fluffy, lively kittens chased each other and performed usual cat stunts around a larger cat, perhaps their mother. Five black puppies romped in the other front display case, also oblivious to the human activity in the store.
Alton Assistant Fire Chief Mike Harvey said firefighters were called to Alton Square in the event they were needed to gain access to the store with its Knox Box lock box key. Mall security had keys, though, he said, but firefighters also were there to look for any fire code violations.
Greer pointed to a stack of bags filled with shredded paper and pieces of metal by a rear stairwell that he said were blocking an exit and in violation of fire codes.
At the same time, city inspector Pat Williams used a flashlight to look for building and safety code violations. Also on the scene was Phil Roggio, Alton director of development and housing.