Animal rights group takes on Manchester zoo

CEDAR RAPIDS - A California-based animal rights group began making it case in federal court Monday that a Manchester couple illegally obtained and disposed of exotic animals at their private zoo.

In March 2014, the Animal Legal Defense Fund told Tom and Pam Sellner - owners of Crickett Hollow Zoo - that they intended to take action against the couple for what it said were violations of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

The lawsuit began to unfold in Cedar Rapids federal court about two months after government inspectors wrote that the Sellners 'have not shown good faith” in correcting violations documented in earlier U.S. Department of Agriculture visits. The couple three times in 2014 and 2015 'failed to provide” inspectors with access to facilities, animals and records, the USDA wrote.

Cricket Hollow Zoo, its owners wrote on Facebook, is a private zoo exhibiting birds and animals alongside a dairy farm in Manchester.

'We house a large number of big cats, monkeys, bears, wolves and many other exotic animals that families in our area don't get to see every day,” the page reads.

The Sellners told supporters on Facebook about their legal plight and encouraged supporters to attend the hearing.

'We are doing our best to fight back against a powerful animal rights group with almost unlimited funding,” a post by Pam Sellner said. ' ... We have personally received hate mail, death threats, private detectives taking illegal photos, aerial photos, trespassing, slanders and lies, much of it by people who have never even been here.

The ALDF asserts three violations of the Endangered Species Act - unlawful 'take” of a protected species, unlawful possession of protected species and unlawful trafficking of protected species in commerce.

The suit alleges that animals were confined to small and dirty cages, that animals were seen throwing up and being swarmed with flies and that food and waste were allowed to pile up.

The allegations were based on visitor accounts as well as USDA reports, the suit asserts.

According to USDA records, inspectors found 28 incidents of non-compliance in four visits between July 31, 2013, and Jan. 9, 2014. Conditions described include inadequate watering and shelter, dirty facilities and the death of three piglets born to a Meishan pig left in the cold.

The civil trial in front of Magistrate Judge Jon Scoles is expected to last the week. Scoles asked that opening statements be waived and that testimony begin right away.

On Monday, the ALDF attorney's called California-based veterinarian Jennifer Conrad to the stand. She provides care for exotic animals and large felines.

Conrad, who said she has reviewed materials related to the case, testified to USDA reports and alleged conditions at Cricket Hollow. Conrad said there were numerous deficiencies at the zoo, including piles of feces, unclean water for animals and poor veterinary practices.

In an eight-year period, there were approximately 20 veterinary visits to the zoo, testimony showed. That comes out to an average of 2.5 vet visits a year for an estimated 200 animals.

'I think that shows a paltry and unconscionable lack of veterinary care,” Conrad said.

Since the suit was filed, the USDA has issued an additional complaint against the Sellners. The agency said the owners had paid

more than $10,000 in fines but had 'continued to fail to comply with the minimum standards.”