UPDATE: Man pleads not guilty in animal cruelty case, banned from animal contact

UPDATE: (9/3/21 11:23 A.M.) – Timothy Lorraine has plead not guilty during his arraignment Friday morning.

According to the Pulaski County Court, Lorraine was also assigned a public defender.

His bond has been set at $2,500 at 10%. The reasoning for this was a pre-trial risk assessment indicated he is a low and moderate risk to reoffend or fail to appear.

The judge issued that Lorraine is prevented from being in contact with any animals or reptiles. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and Animal Control will monitor his compliance.

His pre-trial conference is set for Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. and will be overseen by Judge Lawless.

UPDATE: (9/2/21 6 A.M.) – A Whitley County man has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty after nearly 150 exotic animals were found living in filthy conditions.

According to the Pulaski County Detention Center, Timothy Lorraine was arrested by Fish and Wildlife officials Wednesday. He’s charged with second degree animal cruelty and is due in court Friday.

BURNSIDE, Ky. (WTVQ/Press Release) – Humane groups and local authorities worked together in the rescue of close to 150 exotic animals in a large-scale alleged severe neglect situation at a local pet store.

The Humane Society of the United States, Burnside Police Department, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Special Investigation Unit, Somerset-Pulaski County Humane Society, Pulaski County Attorney’s Office and Pulaski County Animal Control all came together for the rescue.

Local authorities served a search and seizure warrant at Tim’s Reptiles and Exotics off US-27 at approximately 11 a.m. EDT. Dozens of snakes, lizards, turtles, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils and fish were found living in filthy, poor conditions typically seen in severe neglect situations. The pet store operator was arrested by Burnside Police Department on 19 counts of animal cruelty.

The guinea pigs and several turtles were forced to share the same enclosure, which was covered in spider webs. The water in the fish tanks was murky, and most of the animals had no apparent access to food or clean water. Hamsters gnawed frantically on the wire siding of their makeshift enclosure, and some of the rabbits were found in barren cages with nowhere to find relief from the wire flooring.

“It was deeply disturbing to witness the bleak lives of these animals in this shop of horrors,” said Todd Blevins, Kentucky director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are thankful to the Burnside Police Department and all of the organizations involved in getting these animals the care that they desperately need.”

The animals received initial veterinary exams on-scene and were surrendered to Burnside Police Department. They will continue to receive much-needed attention through several organizations prepared to provide specialized care. Liberty Nature Center, Thoroughbred Exotics, Bourbon County Rescue, Paws 4 the Cause, Lexington Humane Society and KY Fish and Tank Rescue are among the groups taking in the animals.

“I was shocked to see animals living in these conditions,” said Chief Mike Hill of Burnside Police Department. “It is a great relief to all of us here that these animals will have an opportunity to be rehabilitated, thanks to the help from the Humane Society of the United States and everyone involved in making this happen today.”

The assistance of the Humane Society of the United States was requested by the Burnside Police Department after concerns about the welfare of animals on the property were raised by Burnside City Code Enforcement.