Wirral pet shop owner banned for not taking care of animals

Aug 25 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Liverpool Echo

Marmoset monkey

AN EX-PET shop owner who sold primates and tortoises without a licence had a dead monkey in his freezer, a court heard.

Police officers searched Wirral Bird World in Moreton and the home of owner Brian Owen after complaints from members of the public about a tiny monkey in a cage on the shop counter.

The 44-year-old, of Denham Close, Prenton, was banned from running a pet shop at Wirral Magistrates Court yesterday after pleading guilty to failing to ensure the welfare of the infant marmoset.

He also admitted offering to sell two Hermann’s tortoises – which are classified as an endangered species – without the correct certificates and operating outside his pet shop licence by selling primates.

Owen, who no longer owns the shop and now works in construction, said the case had left his reputation in tatters.

The search was carried out last August by police, Wirral Council, DEFRA and experts from Monkey World, a primate rescue centre in Dorset.

Paula Grogan, prosecuting, said: “The monkey in the shop was a very young infant and people were flocking to see it, putting their fingers in the cage.

“As a result Constable Rachel Krueger, Merseyside Police’s wildlife officer, visited and saw the little monkey in what looked like a hamster cage. It was at risk of infection from humans because of its age.

“The officer overheard a conversation in which Mr Owen indicated it was not for sale, but he was willing to discuss the purchase of such monkeys.

“A search warrant was obtained and on seeing the officers he immediately asked ‘Is this about my monkey?’. He went on to produce from the freezer a body of a different baby monkey.”