We know our followers are painfully aware that shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with cats needing homes at any time. But the same applies to small animals, like guinea pigs, hamsters, and rabbits.
There are always more kittens needing help in spring, and many more rabbits after people jump into adopting them for Easter. But one story demonstrates what can happen when those animals need rescue on a large scale. In this case, things went unimaginably wrong.
Hundreds of Small Animals Met Shocking Fate
It’s a story that shocked and appalled everyone who saw it: A crowded Humane Society in San Diego was horrified to learn that hundreds of small animals it transferred to the Humane Society of Southern Arizona didn’t find homes. Instead, they likely ended up frozen as food for reptiles!
The 323 animals transferred on Aug. 7, 2023, included mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits. It was the largest transfer of such animals across state lines in the San Diego rescue’s history.
All were supposed to be safe, but then they somehow ended up with two brothers, as part of a “purported family-run group in Maricopa County.” While the rescuers had worked with Trevor Jones before, they didn’t know his brother Colten sold small animals as snake food and allegedly had a reptile farm business.
Screenshots via YouTube
Investigations Into the Missing Small Animals
News reported that Colten ran a Phoenix-based reptile company called the Fertile Turtle. A day after receiving the small animals, he sent a shocking text exposed later in investigations. But he denied any wrongdoing.
“Do you have the ability to freeze off a bunch of guinea pigs and or rabbits? I don’t have the manpower or labor to be able to do it in time for the show and it’s too much for me,” the text stated.
Later, Jones returned more than 62 animals to the Humane Society, but that left 261 unaccounted for.
Finding out about the likely fate of the animals was heartbreaking and devastating for people from both Humane societies. As a result of the tragedy, the CEO was fired in Arizona, and a chief programs officer resigned. Both sides began investigations as Tucson police got involved.
Meanwhile, the San Diego shelter’s CEO, Dr. Gary Weitzman said he had never seen anything like this in 30 years of work.
Video by CBS 8 San Diego:
What Happed After the Investigations?
Understandably, both rescues faced enormous public backlash. However, the Arizona rescue exonerated the San Diego shelter from any wrongdoing.
“SDHS had no knowledge whatsoever regarding the involvement of Colten Jones or the Fertile Turtle, and it had no reason to believe the small animals would not be adopted out as pets,” the page states.
Both rescue’s shared public updates as the investigations continued. In one such update from February, 2024, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona, outlines steps they have taken to prevent such a nightmare from happening again.
The organization hired a new Interim CEO and new Program and Development Officers.
At the time of this writing, the outcome of the Tucson Police Department’s investigation remains unknown.
The Small Animals’ Fate Remains Unknown
Meanwhile, the final update from the San Diego Humane Society in March, 2024, leaves unanswered questions.
Investigations showed there was no accredited business record of The Fertile Turtle or any business owned by Colten Jones.
Sadly, they still don’t know for sure what happened to missing animals, and yet it points to a tragic end.
“We remain heartbroken by the likely outcome for these animals who were loved deeply by our staff and volunteers. We know that our team members and volunteers who cared for these individual animals continue to feel their loss,” they wrote.
Guinea pigs currently needing homes via Facebook/San Diego Humane Society
In response, the rescue put strict protocols in place and will be advocating to legally ban small pet sales in California pet stores. Their overpopulation leaves rescuers overwhelmed. And people too easily treat them as disposable.
Going forward, both rescues are taking actions to ensure their animals find responsible, loving homes.
“What happened with this transport was unimaginable — nothing like it has ever happened in the history of animal welfare. And as we move forward, we will take action to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again,” the San Diego Humane Society shared.
Pet rats seeking homes at the San Diego Humane Society via Facebook
Like any pet, small animals are a lifetime commitment. For example, bunnies can live over a decade and need responsible care daily. Before going to a pet store, please consider adoption from a rescue near you! At any time, there may be hundreds needing homes, and often many more in the spring.
Hamster currently seeking a home at the San Diego Humane Society via Facebook.
Video by KOLD News 13:
