When federal inspectors document animals in pain, exposed to extreme cold, or denied veterinary care, we have a responsibility to act.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a complaint alleging that K&M Pets LLC, operating as Custom Creatures in Saginaw Township, repeatedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. According to federal inspectors, animals at the facility included a spotted hyena appearing to suffer from pain and poor muscle development, a rabbit matted with waste, kinkajous pacing and hissing in distress, and a sloth exposed to harsh Michigan winter drafts. Inspectors also allege repeated refusals to allow legally required inspections.

Exotic animals like hyenas, sloths, kinkajous, and coatis are not domesticated pets. They are wild species with complex physical, behavioral, and environmental needs that cannot be met in a retail storefront. When oversight breaks down, the animals are the ones who suffer.

This petition calls on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the U.S. District Court overseeing this case to fully enforce the Animal Welfare Act. If violations are confirmed, K&M Pets’ federal license should be revoked, and the animals should be transferred to accredited sanctuaries or licensed wildlife rescues equipped to provide lifelong, species-appropriate care.

Wild animals belong in the wild or in qualified sanctuaries — not in retail pet displays.

We urge USDA APHIS and the federal court to prioritize the safety and welfare of these animals and ensure they are relocated to environments where they can live safely and with dignity.