‘The Reptile Guy’ charged with animal cruelty

MISSION (NEWS 1130) – A Mission man known as “The Reptile Guy” has been charged with two counts of animal cruelty and one count of violating the Veterinarians Act after an investigation by the BC SPCA.

The SPCA says it was called in after a video came to light showing Michael Hopcraft, who does not have a vet license, performing a procedure on a blood python without a sedative or any pain medication.

“It’s not appropriate for any individual without a veterinary licence to be performing such procedures,” says the BC SPCA’s chief prevention and enforcement officer, Marcie Moriarty.

She says the snake could’ve easily died as a result of the surgery, and even though it didn’t the situation is still upsetting. “It is also concerning that the operation was done without the necessary pain control, which would have caused suffering and distress for the snake.”

This is not the first time that the SPCA has been called on Hopcraft. Dozens of reptiles were found in distress under Hopcraft’s care, and were seized in 2015.

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