Officials: Milwaukee home an amateur zoo

Published: April 4, 2009 at 1:58 PM

MILWAUKEE, April 4 (UPI) -- Officials in Milwaukee say a 5-foot crocodile and a 14-foot python were among the animals found inside a south side home.

Officials said the home's unidentified owner had been keeping the large reptiles along with two monitor lizards, four snapping turtles and five additional snakes, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Friday.

The animals were found inside the home Friday by police officers, who were at the home for unspecified reasons.

Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said the home's owner did not receive any violation citations as a result of the makeshift zoo. However, police noted such exotic animals are illegal in the city.

An unidentified official at the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission shelter told the Journal Sentinel the animals all appeared to be in good condition at their new home at the shelter.