Dead rodents and fish were found at Round Up Pet Center in Scotts Valley more than a month after the business shut its doors because the owners could not afford the rent.
Round Up Pet Center operated out of King’s Village Shopping Center on Mount Hermon Road before it went out of business in late February.
The owners turned over the keys only last week, King’s Village property manager Mathew Turner said.
Turner said he first went into the shop Monday, March 29, to see if the keys worked.
“The windows were blacked out, so we couldn’t see in,” Turner said. “Some guys went in on Tuesday and noticed the smell. It smelled really bad.”
Turner said property management got the lights turned Wednesday, March 31.
“We found dead animals in cages, dead and live fish and some crabs,” Turner said.
Property management immediately called Animal Control Services of Santa Cruz County and Scotts Valley police, Turner said.
Four hamsters, two Thai crabs, two crawfish, three saltwater snails, a catfish and 18 goldfish were found dead in the shop, according to animal services. A small number of fish and crabs that were still alive were taken by the agency.
Round Up Pet Center’s former owners, Brenda and Brian Sanders, could not be reached for comment.
The owners of the recently opened Animal House on Scotts Valley Drive said they have no affiliation with Round Up Pet Center, but that Brenda Sanders does pop into their shop from time to time because she has friends in the area.
Animal services officials said it is uncertain whether the animals and fish were already dead when the business closed or died because of abandonment.
“We will continue the investigation,” said Henry Brzezinski, general manager of Animal Services.
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