GRAND RAPIDS -- The five live chickens attached to strings in a Tulip Street SW basement was enough for a Grand Rapids police officer to call for animal control today.
But when he turned and found a huge aquarium with a crocodile-like creature inside, it set animal control officers on their way a little faster.
Police were doing a routine parole check on a man this morning at his residence on Tulip Street SW when they found the 2-foot caiman, of the crocodile family.
The animals are considered exotic and not allowed as pets in Kent County, according to county ordinance.
Animal control officers had no trouble taking the caiman from the aquarium and placing it in a cat-type carrier for transport to the Kent County animal shelter.
Grand Rapids police Officer Gregory Bauer said the parolee, who owns the caiman, likely would be able to get the animal back if he agrees not to keep it in Kent County.
He was arrested this morning for what police described as minor parole violations.
According to a nature web site, wildernesscalssroom.com, male caimans can grow to 6-7 feet long while females generally reach a maximum of 4 feet.
"I think it's the first one I've seen," Bauer said.
Police said a woman who lives at the residence was allowed to keep the chickens because she promised to slaughter them in the next few days. The chickens were in the basement, kept captive with strings tied to one leg.
The woman was keeping them for meat.
Photo above:Two caiman of similar size to the one found in a Tulip Street SW basement (Courtesy:www.wildernessclassroom.com)
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