PETA Releases Grisly Footage That Led to Raid on Exotic-Animal Wholesaler in Arlington

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., May 4 2010 at 9:54 AM

Categories: News

Don Feare

Some of the fortunate few to survive confinement at U.S. Global Exotics in Arlington

Had it not been for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, federal investigators might never have known about conditions inside U.S. Global Exotics, the "massive international exotic-animal wholesale facility in Arlington" raided on December 15. For seven months, PETA had a man on the inside gathering evidence that owners Jasen and Vanessa Shaw were allowing tens of thousands of exotic animals to live -- and, in most instances, die slow, horrible deaths -- in what PETA calls "continuous, cruel confinement." As a result, U.S. Global Exotics was shut down -- and now, Jasen Shaw's on the run, a fugitive from federal authorities who allege, among other things, that he violated the Lacey Act.

Following this morning's story about Shaw's apparent run to his native New Zealand, PETA's David Perle, in its D.C. office, directs our attention to its newly updated Web site filled with graphic, often grisly, footage -- the very evidence it used to convince federal authorities to raid the facility shortly before Christmas. The special section devoted to U.S. Global Exotics is called "To Hell and Back: A Journey Inside the Pet Trade," and, fair warning, it lives up to its name.

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global exotics, pet raid, PETA

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I just want to add a spot about the other side of the story. No, I didn't know the exotic animal whole-seller personally, but I do know an employee or two from there. Evidently the undercover "employee" placed by PETA played a big hand in this. PETA paid this "employee" for each photo he supplied them of mistreated animals. Evidently this "employee" was responsible for the care of most of the animals he was photographing. If PETA had not placed an undercover agent in this place of business would those animals have thrived under some other person's care? Just something to think about.
My general opinion of PETA is that they have good intentions, but they waste a lot of time and resources on stupid stuff. I'm always happy to see them out doing something productive. Regardless of your stance on PETA, I think we can all agree that less cruelty in this world is a good thing.
PETA needs to go away, they are doing tremendous damage to the cause they supposedly support. For those of you who can't understand this, think of it this way: You know how the war on terrorism is actually creating more terrorists and fomenting anti-americanism around the world? Well PETAs is like America (or GWB if your prefer). It makes the average guy want to do less to help animals just to spite them. On the other hand Operation Kindness is a real no-kill sheltor that deserves support. PETA is a radical extremist group.
@Gonzobot The point is not whether they are animals or people. The point is that they were being tortured. It's one thing to eat animals or to kill them to defend yourself; that is the natural order. It is quite another thing when people torture animals; that is just plain cruel.
When are people going to understand that there is a fundamental difference between people and animals? THEY ARE ANIMALS THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE FOR CHRISSAKES! We keep them for amusement, we raise them for our food. Why do they need rights exactly?
@ Maven Newbern Protip: Books are media. I formulate opinions based on the facts and my own attitudes. I would support the cause of PETA if they used legal and legitimate means of bringing about their ends, not subterfuge, espionage and fabrication. I know this doesn't have anything to do with my argument, but I'm a vegetarian myself, and having to deal with having organisations like PETA allegedly being allied to my own beliefs is tiresome.
I'm very happy that they were shut down. I think it is so funny how people are like opinion recorders. Is so much easier to offer the opinions offered by media then to formulate them yourself. For instance all of the people that mindlessly seem to think that PETA is an irritation. Books, you should get you some.
My general opinion of PETA is that they have good intentions, but they waste a lot of time and resources on stupid stuff. I'm always happy to see them out doing something productive. Regardless of your stance on PETA, I think we can all agree that less cruelty in this world is a good thing.
It isn't so much the killing of animals that bothers me, after all we hunt for food and clothing. However, there is a big difference between killing an animal instantly and making it suffer/torturing it that is absolutely appalling, revolting and completely unacceptable. A person who has no compassion for life in any of it's various forms is without conscience and thus evil.
As much as I dislike PETA in most cases, I'm glad they caught something major like this.
I like steak!
PETA has guts to put people inside these institutions (meat-packing plants, chicken-processing plants, pet stores, etc. Without PETA's courage to go undercover and dredge up such terrible abuses for you all to see, nothing would be done about it, and everyone would be blind. To those who criticize PETA for not housing all the unwanted and unloved pets people dumped on their VA headquarters' doorstep, I say that you don't understand PETA. PETA is a political action group, not a vast animal shelter! They euthanized the animals they could not find homes for because (a)they knew the local shelters were full and didn't agree with their method of putting down animals; and (b) they are a political action group, not a vast animal shelter, and therefore it would be FRAUDULENT to use their donations that way. You might as dump victims of drunk drivers on MADD's lawn. Get your head out of your ass, people!
Yeah, well, you know who was a vegetarian, don't you. Hitler, that's who! I want my country back.
@ Chris Stephens http://www.peta.org/MC/factsheet_display.asp?ID=39 PETA claim that they are forced to euthanize because they can't find shelter for all the animals, however this article http://www.newsweek.com/id/134549 refutes their claim, by providing examples of organizations which manage to find shelter for the vast majority of animals placed in their care. PETA has taken a crazy stance on animal use for testing medicine (would they volunteer themselves to test new cancer drugs?) and their philosophy of rather killing animals than seeing them in human hands is absurd.
@ p.kerpen Sorry, but the laughably named "Center for Consumer Freedom" is a f$%king joke, and that's putting it mildly. You'll have to find a better source than that if you want to be taken seriously. The CCF is the lobbying arm of the fur, tobacco, and food industry. Nobody takes them seriously. Except you, apparently....
PETA is a terrorist organisation. I've talked to other people in the pet trade who know this person, and although he's not a very capable businessman, and he has, in rare cases, gone beyond guidelines, PETA has blown this way out of proportion. Fact check: PETA killed 95% of adoptable pets in its care during 2008. This is an extremist group. http://www.consumerfreedom.com/pressRelease_detail.cfm/r/258-peta-killed-95-percent-of-adoptable-pets-in-its-care-during-2008
although I am very glad to see this person on the run and the company shut down. I do have a follow up comment. PETA kills animals themselves, sure they don't starve the animals but they do kill them because they say they cannot house all the animals!! I'm sure the billions of dollars spent on advertising could have been used to save the 3000 animals they killed last year. Maybe their advertising would be much more helpful to their cause if we knew money we donate is helping animals and not their image! PETA FAIL
I support animal torture. Also, human torture.
@Toots: Get colon cancer.
"and your connection drawn between this situation and Liberals is exactly, what?" You're forgiven for not understanding the sarcasm of a regular around here. The moron part was unnecessary though, as it just makes you look like an ass.
The relocation of dozens of tigers from the Tigers Only Preservation Society in Jackson, N.J., highlights a growing problem in the United States. <a href="http://www.dropshippers.co.za/Other-Nutrition.html">Kaitlin Other</a>
How would dying and dead animals be profitable. Not only are these people cruel, they were terrible business people!
and your connection drawn between this situation and Liberals is exactly, what? try not to be such a moron on national blogs. "Had it not been for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)........." Yeah, those stupid Liberals.
I sure hope they catch that punk! Thgis loser needs to suffer VERY slowly. Lou www.whos-logging.se.tc
Go PETA! This is just one of the many things PETA does to help animals in need.
I agree Tom L, these animals were not lucky enough to be tested on in a lab dedicated to making better makeup.
Still, the normally inane and groan-inducing PETA actually did something worthwhile. That deserves some kudos.
The, completely unmentioned at all on PETA's site, SPCA thankfully did all the actual grunt work, otherwise 90% of those saved animals might have been dumped.
"Had it not been for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)........." Yeah, those stupid Liberals.