Three people have been indicted in an animal cruelty case outside Norman. Hundreds of exotic animals, including kangaroos, camels and ostriches, were found to be severely malnourished – some to the extent of eating the bark of trees. In late April, officers executed a search warrant and removed more than 350 animals from the East Norman property. Police said most of the animals were deprived of food and water and lived in pathetic conditions. “We are talking about animals as small as a cockatoo. , various bird species and reptiles, to camels,” said Norman police spokeswoman Sarah Jensen. “The investigators began to notice recessive tendencies with all of these animals that they were extremely malnourished. Many of them were dehydrated, didn’t have access to water that wasn’t covered in mold.” Police said four animals were killed and several animals required veterinary care. The property’s owners, Aaron Stachmus, 41, and Bryson Anglin, 31, have been charged with animal cruelty on 18 counts. Mark Parker, 37, has also been charged, the man he hired to care for the animals. Court documents show that he told investigators that he was only in charge of feeding and providing water for the larger animals on the property – not the smaller ones. “But even those larger animals were showing signs of malnutrition,” Jensen said. Police also said that the owners were already being investigated by the city because of the illegally kept exotic animals. “They were working with the city to move these animals to an area that would be appropriate and within the city’s ordinance,” Jensen said. Officials said the animals have been taken to sanctuaries and rescued across the state.
Three people have been indicted in an animal cruelty case outside Norman.
Hundreds of exotic animals, including kangaroos, camels and ostriches, were found to be severely malnourished – some to the extent of eating the bark of trees.
In late April, officers executed search warrants and removed more than 350 animals from the East Norman property.
Police said most of the animals were deprived of food and water and lived in pathetic conditions.
“We are talking about small animals like cockatoos, various bird species and reptiles,” said Norman police spokeswoman Sarah Jensen. “The investigators began to notice recessive tendencies with all of these animals in that they were extremely malnourished. Many of them were dehydrated, didn’t have access to water that wasn’t covered in mold.”
Police said four animals died and several animals needed veterinary care.
The property’s owners, 41-year-old Aaron Stachmus, and 31-year-old Bryson Anglin, have been charged with 18 counts of animal cruelty. Mark Parker, 37, has also been charged, the man he hired to care for the animals.
Court documents show that he told investigators that he was only in charge of feeding and providing water to the larger animals on the property – not the smaller ones.
“But even those larger animals were still showing signs of malnutrition,” Jensen said.
Police also said that the owners were already being investigated by the city as they kept exotic animals illegally.
“They were working with the city to move these animals to an area that would be appropriate and within city ordinance,” Jensen said.
Officials said the animals have been moved to sanctuaries and rescue sites across the state.
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