Kiwi avoids court case over animals

Jasen Shaw. Photo / Supplied

A New Zealander who had more than 26,000 animals seized from his Texas animal trade business is unlikely to face animal cruelty charges laid against him.

An arrest warrant for Jasen Shaw, 37, was issued in February after officials charged him with illegal hunting and criminal trade in wildlife in Dallas.

The arrest followed an incident in December when thousands of reptiles, rodents and mammals were seized from Shaw's company, US Global Exotics, which was subsequently shut down.

Among the acts of cruelty listed on the Texas Animal Control affidavit were that about 5000 turtles were packed into cardboard boxes without food or water, snakes had been crushed to death by the weight of other snakes piled on top of them, and two-litre plastic bottles were filled with about 50 live frogs and no water.

The Texas SPCA was given custody of the animals after the raid, the largest animal rescue in US history.

Shaw's lawyer, Lance Evans, said his client and wife Vanessa returned to New Zealand in January after the business was closed.

Mr Evans said he had met officials from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Attorney's Office and "they are well aware the Shaws moved back to New Zealand". He said he would wait before commenting on when Shaw might return to the US.

Interpol NZ said it was aware Shaw was back in the country but it had not been contacted by the US.

It said it was unlikely he could be extradited on the charges and he would most likely have to return to the US voluntarily to face them.

- NZPA