A local woman has been found guilty of neglecting over 40 exotic animals including lizards, snakes, and birds after peace officers found a large number of dead and dying animals in a northwest home in 2012..

Loris Moysey was charged last year with 43 counts of allowing an animal to be in distress after authorities found dead or dying animals inside a Varsity home in February.

Brad Nichols, manager with Animal Cruelty Investigations says that the recent media coverage on exotic animals expresses the need for knowledge on the unique needs of such animals.

“In this case, the convicted subject was a Board member for The Alberta Reptile and Amphibian Society, so ignorance of husbandry knowledge did not play a role. While the fine amount in this sentence was low, about $25 per animal, because of the offender is currently unemployed and has diminished moral blameworthiness due to mental illness, the prohibition was always the goal and is an appropriate duration. I think it is important that we do not, in any scenario, think of animals in terms of a collection,” Nichols said in a release.

Moysey was sentenced to a $1,000 fine and is prohibited from owning or caring for animals for 10 years.

The surviving animals are being cared for.