Riverfront Aquariums manager and owner charged after mass animal seizure

CALGARY – Both the owner and manager of a Calgary pet store are facing charges following a mass animal seizure last year.

The Calgary Humane Society apprehended 333 animals including snakes, tarantulas and scorpions from Riverfront Aquariums on Dec. 2, 2015.

READ MORE: 333 exotic animals seized by Calgary Humane Society

On Monday, officials with the humane society announced manager Wayne Woo and owner Michael Chow were both facing charges in connection to the seizure.

Woo and Chow were not available for comment Monday.

“What is most concerning in this case is the blatant disregard for the basic welfare of the animals in the care of this business,” Brad Nichols, senior manager, Animal Cruelty Investigations said.

“We had animals that had not been fed properly so they were thin and starving; we had animals that had not been provided with adequate water so they were dehydrated; we had animals living in inappropriate terrariums without adequate heat.”

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The Humane Society said there was one charge for each animal seized.

An employee at the Riverfront Aquariums store location on Meridian Road N.E. told Global News the business no longer sells animals and now just deals in pet supplies and equipment.

The business once advertised itself as western Canada’s largest aquarium and reptile dealer.

Woo and Chow are scheduled to appear in court in May.

Woo, formerly the owner, is also facing three separate charges in connection to previous offences from 2014 and 2015.