AMES, Iowa (AP) — Officials in central Iowa say they have seized more than three dozen exotic pets and found another 60-plus dead in an Ames apartment.
Ames Animal Control and Shelter officials tell the Des Moines Register that it's one of the worst animal-hoarding cases they've seen. Among the animals found Tuesday were fish, various lizards, chinchillas, parakeets, cockatiels, small rodents, frogs and snakes.
Animal control supervisor Ron Edwards says the smell of animal waste and decaying carcasses in the apartment was overwhelming. Workers found 41 live animals and more than 60 dead. Edwards says many of the animals had no access to food or water, and some of the live animals were sharing containers with dead ones.
It was unclear whether any charges are pending.
The shelter is closed until Thursday while staff process and care for the animals.