Taxpayers may end up paying for reptile care

Milwaukee County taxpayers may have to pick up a bill of more than $250,000 to pay for the care of the 239 snakes, lizards, crocodiles and other animals seized from reptile-keeper Terry Cullen, according to the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission.

Authorities rescued the animals from two Milwaukee locations in May. The majority of the reptiles were found in filthy conditions with little food or water. MADACC is contracted by 19 county municipalities to provide safekeeping for animals involved in law enforcement cases.

According to Melanie Sobel, MADACC executive director, the estimated cost to date for the animals’ care is approximately $247,365 for housing fees, $4,780 for impound fees to cover processing and assessment of the animals, and $2,500 for medical care.

Materials and supplies cost about $2,400, and included horse troughs to house alligators and wood to build lids on anaconda containers “so the snakes wouldn’t escape,” said Sobel. Some of the animals were found housed in plastic sweater containers, “so tight they couldn’t even move so we went out and bought bigger containers so they could move around,” Sobel said.

The estimated figure of $257,045 for the reptiles’ care does not include “thousands of dollars in additional staff time and overtime,” and does not include three days of police time spent bringing the animals to MADACC, Sobel said.

Various zoos and other institutions across the country have now taken dozens of the reptiles into their care. MADACC is still housing 141 animals.

Cullen has been charged with several counts of misdemeanor animal-related offenses and has also been charged with the sexual assault of an Illinois woman. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Sobel said she understood that the Milwaukee County district attorney’s office may seek restitution from Cullen for the care costs. If there is no restitution, “taxpayers will pay the bill,” says Sobel.

However, Kent Lovern, chief deputy district attorney for Milwaukee County, who is working on the Cullen case, said: “At this point, because the case is pending in court, it is inappropriate for me to speculate about any potential outcomes. We will have to let the case run its course through the legal process.”

A call to Cullen’s attorney, Stephen Glynn, was not immediately returned.