A local petting zoo says they want their animals back after the Nebraska Humane Society seized them last month.
6 News reports that nine animals, described as wild by the Humane Society, were seized from Scatter Joy Acres. According to a court document, a warrant was served at the petting zoo on August 24th which cited Omaha City Ordinance 8-81, Harboring a Non-domestic Animal.
The search warrant says any Coatimundi, Porcupine, Patagonia Mara or non-domestic animal, as defined by the Omaha City Ordinance, was to be seized. Board members with Scatter Joy Acres tell 6 News that all the paperwork and permits for the animals were in place and they want their animals back.
According to their website, Scatter Joy Acres is open to the public but also specializes in services for special needs children, veterans, the elderly, at-risk youth, and for educational purposes. Parents of special needs children are reported to be planning a protest for the petting zoo.
Scatter Joy Acres has filed a formal complaint with the City of Omaha as well as sent a letter to the Humane Society.
The complaint quotes, “We are quite concerned about the welfare of the animals that the Humane Society unlawfully seized,” stated Tim Heller, a member of Scatter Joy Acres Board of Directors. “They are supposed to inform us where they are and have not done so. Those animals are used in therapy sessions. NHS is denying therapy people their therapy. We demand they be returned immediately!”
In a letter to the Nebraska Humane Society, Scatter Joy Acres warns of potential legal action. The letter to the Humane Society reads in part, “We demand immediate return of these animals. We will seek to hold the humane society responsible for any injury to these animals-including the injuries some sustained when they were seized.