PETA asks for investigation after flood kills pets
An aerial view of flooding in the Southern Tier. (Sept. 9, 2011) Credit: AP
An animal rights group wants an investigation into the death of nearly 100 rodents, reptiles, birds and other animals during flooding that swamped a Petco store in Johnson City.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals want Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen (MAH'-lin) to probe whether the store's decision not to evacuate the animals violates New York's laws against cruelty.
On a blog, Jim Myers, CEO of San Diego-based Petco says managers weren't familiar with the flooding in that region and misjudged the risk. The area was evacuated.
Myers says employees checked before midnight Wednesday and the store was safe. On Thursday, the store was flooded and they were not allowed back in. They finally got in Friday morning, but the animals were dead. Many others were saved.
Mollen did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
'I do think he saw the writing on the wall' Rex Heuermann's Attorney Michael Brown sat down with Newsday following his client's sentencing to discuss the case. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
'I do think he saw the writing on the wall' Rex Heuermann's Attorney Michael Brown sat down with Newsday following his client's sentencing to discuss the case. NewsdayTV's Shari Einhorn reports.
