Reptile & Amphibian Forums

WOW, they really got a fellow up in North Jersey. It seems he was keeping lots of animals in a rented garage, including dome hot dnakes. He was bitten by a rattler he was keeping and in turn had to be flown to NY to recieve treatment. One of his neighbors hadnt seen him for a week (he was hospitalized) and the authorities investigated his home and rented garage, thats all she wrote. All of his animals are gone! Ironicly, he was released from the hospital and came home to see the raid in progress.

Do you have a link to an article? I would like to hear more about the story.
Thanks
Kevin

Anyone have the guys name?

Tom

Police find house of reptiles behind man's garage door

Friday, October 24, 2003

BY RUDY LARINI
Star-Ledger Staff

Snakes alive!

That's what police must have thought when they found a veritable pet shop full of reptiles in Haledon after going to check on a man who had not been seen for days.

Authorities found a total of 180 reptiles -- snakes, including at least one anaconda, lizards, turtles, frogs and two alligators -- inside Thomas Rogan's Little Ferry home and a garage/office building he rented in Haledon. Police said Rogan told them he has been collecting reptiles since he was a young boy.

State wildlife officials said it was one of the largest seizures of reptiles ever in New Jersey.

Rogan, 44, who police said was a salesman for an auto parts supplier, faces state charges for keeping dangerous and unlicensed animals and also will be cited by local health officials for seven counts of animal cruelty for allowing seven of the reptiles to die while he was away.

And the reason why Rogan hadn't been there to care for the animals for almost a week? He was in the hospital recovering from a poisonous snake bite.

Authorities said Rogan went to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson on Oct. 15 for treatment of a poisonous snake bite and was airlifted to Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, the regional snake bite treatment facility for the metropolitan area. A hospital spokeswoman said she could not discuss Rogan's injury without his permission but confirmed that he was discharged Wednesday.

A man who answered the door at Rogan's house yesterday said Rogan wasn't there and closed the door.

The free-standing garage/office Rogan rented on Belmont Avenue is located behind an apartment building whose tenants notified their landlord after Rogan's truck had remained in the driveway since last week and he had not been seen. The landlord called police, who entered the building Wednesday with the help of a locksmith.

"Normally when we get a call like this, we find a person who's died -- six days, no contact, he doesn't call back," said Haledon detective Donald DeVirgilio. "But we opened the door and said, 'Oh, my God!'"

About 20 reptiles were found in Rogan's Little Ferry home and the remaining 160 or so were found at the garage in Haledon.

DeVirgilio said none was loose and they were being kept in cages and fish tank-style aquariums.

Police summoned John DeCando, the chief animal control officer for neighboring Paterson, who described the scene in the garage as something he had never seen in his 25 years on the job.

"I went in there and sure enough, it was unbelievable. It was like a pet shop," DeCando said.

"God forbid there was a fire and these snakes got out. Somebody could have died," he added, explaining that bites by some poisonous snakes can be fatal if not treated immediately. About five dozen of the snakes Rogan had were venomous, according to Jack Kaskey, a spokesman for the state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife in the Department of Environmental Protection.

DeVirgilio and DeCando said the menagerie of reptiles included rattle snakes, vipers, pythons, boa constrictors, king snakes, at least one anaconda, two American alligators and other reptiles, such as lizards, turtles and frogs. A full accounting of the animals was not available yesterday.

"He (Rogan) said he was a collector since he was a kid," DeVirgilio said.

Kaskey said state charges have yet to be lodged against Rogan, who faces offenses such as possession of potentially dangerous animals and possession of regulated non-game species without a permit. The offenses carry fines of $250 to $5,000. DeCando said the animal cruelty offenses are punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in prison.

Kaskey said the reptiles have been turned over to a New Jersey herpetologist, who does not want to be identified. Some of the nonpoisonous reptiles could be returned to Rogan if he obtains the proper permits, the DEP spokesman said.

Thanks buddy!

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It sounds like he was just an avid hobbiest who's only "wrong" was not having permits, not a criminal. A few animals here or there I can understand letting the permits lapse, but when you have such an impressive collection you need to protect it from any perils. I also take exception to owning unpermitted or "underground" poisonous herps. While I understand their appeal, (I love eyelash vipers) there is no need to have them in a residential setting.

at shows and at a local pet store. He was supposed to get me some hognose snakes, but never heard back from him. He did the local shows and what not. His only problem was NOT JUST THE FACT THAT HE HAD NO permit...he had freakin hots as well as a crocadillian (allegedly)! Can't keep either in NJ without special permits!