A Riverdale man denies taking part in an illegal pet trade.
The Department of Natural Resources, Clayton County Animal Control and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office raided the home of JaeQuan Smith-Dever on October 17.
Investigators seized 13 dogs, two black and white tegus, a ring-tailed lemur, an alligator, a timber rattlesnake, a western pig-nosed snake and a ball python.
They said Georgian law requires permits for six of the animals.
Deputies said game wardens contacted the sheriff’s office for assistance last week, and SWAT surrounded the community center near State Route 314.
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“It was a slow and methodical operation,” said Maj. John Norrod. “A drone was deployed to fly through the front door and then through the home to make sure none of these wild animals were running around before the SWAT team came in.”
He said all the animals were in cages throughout the house.
He said permits are needed to protect the local ecosystem. Smith-Devers claimed he did that by saving the animals.
“People call me instead of leaving the animals in the wild. So I’m actually doing a favor,” said Smith-Devers.
He called the raid unnecessary.
He said DNR could have contacted him or knocked on his door and informed him of the permit requirements, and he would have gone through the legal process.
“Even if they had said we want to take these animals in temporarily while you go through the process,” Smith-Devers said.
He said hearing descriptions of illegal pet trafficking is offensive.
The sheriff’s office posted an advisory Wednesday saying that lemurs are endangered. Thousands are taken from the wild every year and keeping them is harmful to the animal and the owner.
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“One thing I know for sure is that I got that Lemur out of a bad situation, and he was actually in a great situation when he lived with me, and he was properly cared for,” Smith-Devers argued. “I actually had plans to eventually bring the Lemur to the zoo, because it lived with other Lemurs and things like that. I wasn’t just keeping him for pet reasons.”
He said he has rescued the Tegus twice and pointed out that Georgian law regulating the lizards has changed in the past two years.
“It’s a hurtful feeling that people just judge, judge, judge,” Smith-Devers said.
He said he aspires to open a rescue or pet store in the future and plans to go through the proper licensing process to continue his work in the future.
“I love animals. I am willing to make any corrections regarding what I like to do.
Deputies said his family members were allowed to take back some of the dogs. Clayton County Animal Control seized the larger one. The Ministry of Natural Resources took possession of the wild animals.
Clayton County ordinances limit households to a maximum of five animals.
Smith-Devers said he will hire an attorney to help him argue his case in court. He faces six charges of possession of wildlife without a permit, four charges of possession of tools during the commission of a crime and possession of marijuana over an ounce.
Deputies said they first booked him into jail on Oct. 16 on the marijuana charge. DNR then obtained arrest warrants for the animals the next day. Smith-Devers will be released from prison on October 20.
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