An investigation into alleged animal cruelty at a Thornton pet store is ongoing, and an international animal rights group leveled further allegations Thursday at an Adams County rodent farm.
Investigators remained at Jurassic Pets, 10380 Washington St., on Thursday, gathering evidence after serving a search warrant on the business a day earlier, said Matt Barnes, a Thornton Police Department spokesman.
No one was arrested, Barnes said, but investigators are building a case alleging animal cruelty to present to prosecutors.
Adams County sheriff’s investigators are looking at another business, Willards Rodent Factory, under the same ownership as Jurassic Pets.
On Thursday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized the sheriff’s office.
“The Adams County Sheriff’s Office has sat on evidence of widespread cruelty for months,” PETA president Ingrid Newkirk said in a statement.
PETA said it presented evidence of animal cruelty to the sheriff’s office on Oct. 2.
Cmdr. Terrance O’Neill said investigators “are still actively working” on a case. “New information has been brought to light in recent days,” he said. “We are working toward a solution on this.”
The sheriff’s office issued a statement saying its investigation in the case may have been jeopardized by PETA’s action.
“Their information release has gravely jeopardized the likelihood of charges being filed in this case for essentially tipping off the owners … to the investigation,” the statement said. “The release of the information … has provided any suspects time to destroy any evidence of the abuse that may have remained.”
Kenneth Mark Kubic, owner of both businesses, did not return phone calls seeking comment.
PETA alleges that “thousands of rats, mice and other animals” have been mistreated, malnourished and not given proper veterinary care at the rodent farm.
The staff at Jurassic Pets, which sells reptiles, snakes and spiders, “attempted to kill rats and mice by whacking them against surfaces,” according to PETA.
Pets in the store were routinely denied water, the group said.
