49 Animals Seized By Police From Commercial Building In NorCal

GRASS VALLEY, CA — A man is charged with animal cruelty after nearly 50 pets were rescued from a commercial building in Nevada County, according to police.

Authorities responded Aug. 6 to an anonymous tip about animals being left unattended at the Alta Sierra Business Park in the 10000 block of Alta Sierra Drive in Grass Valley, police said.

At the scene, authorities found 35-year-old Charles Adam Beyers of Grass Valley, who said he planned to open a reptile business but did not have a permit, according to police.

Inside the commercial unit were snakes, reptiles, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, ducks, chickens, other birds, cats and dogs, police said, adding many of the animals were locked in small cages or tubs, which were contaminated with urine and feces and without access to water or food.

“Upon entry into the unit, I was hit with a strong, pungent odor of ammonia, coupled with stagnant, humid, warm air,” Animal Control Supervisor Stefanie Geckler said in a news release from the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. “There were no obvious sources of ventilation, no windows were open, no fans were running, and the air conditioner was not turned on.

“Inside one small room were approximately six plastic tubs with various types of birds in them. When I checked inside the tubs, none of the tubs contained water or food for the birds. Some of the plastic tubs were also covered with plastic lids, making it likely very difficult for the birds to breathe. The ammonia stench grew, the deeper we got into the room.”

Authorities seized 47 animals and cite-arrested Beyers, according to police, who said two dogs were relinquished to his neighbor in good faith. Two days later, authorities found the dogs back with Beyers, caged and without food or water, so they were seized as well and Beyers was arrested and booked into county jail, police said.