By Khalida Sarwari
Santa Cruz County Animal Services is investigating a possible case of neglect in Scotts Valley where a number of small animals were found dead inside a shuttered pet store.
Henry Brzezinski, animal services general manager, said the owners of the building at 218 Mount Hermon Road found a tree frog, a catfish and four rodents in dead in their cages Wednesday morning.
Some of the animals were decomposed, he said.
The property owners also found 18 goldfish, two crayfish, two Thai crabs, and two saltwater snails alive in the store.
The facility was formerly occupied by Round Up Pet Center, which, before it closed in February, sold birds, fish, reptiles and other small animals as well as pet supplies.
The facility appeared “unkempt” and some of the fish tanks were dirty, Brzezinski said.
He said the incident is being investigated as a case of animal neglect and abandonment. If the owners are determined to be at fault, they could be charged with crimes against animals and animal neglect, he said.
“We take all crimes against animals seriously, no matter what type of animals they are,” Brzezinski said.