Man cited for keeping reptiles
By TERRI SANGINITI / The News Journal
10/29/2004
delawareonline.com
A Bear man whose reptile collection was confiscated by state animal officials last week was cited Thursday for keeping 14 exotic reptiles in his home without a permit.
Paul M. Valenti, 23, of the unit block of Shadow Lane, was charged with failure to obtain Delaware permits for exotic reptiles and possession of venomous snakes, said SPCA executive director John E. Caldwell.
An arraignment on the charges has been scheduled for Nov. 17, he said.
Anyone convicted of the offenses could be fined up to $500, jailed for 30 days, or both fined and jailed, Caldwell said.
Animal enforcement agents went to Valenti's home Oct. 20 and confiscated four American alligators, a baby alligator, two Nile monitor lizards, a savannah monitor lizard, two red-tailed boas, two jungle carpet pythons and two venomous pygmy rattlesnakes.
All but the red-tailed boas have been given new homes.
"They all have been placed except for the two boas and we found an appropriate place for them to be relocated to North Carolina," Caldwell said.
Valenti could not be reached Thursday for comment.
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