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Exotic zoo owner to get animals back after animal cruelty charges dropped

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ROMULUS, Mich. (WXYZ) — The owner of an exotic zoo is getting his animals back after charges were dropped against him.

Javon Stacks had been charged with animal cruelty, abandonment and neglect.

Romulus police raided the storefront where he was keeping the animals inside a strip mall back in 2019. But a judge dismissed charges against him Thursday and ordered the animals be returned.
Stacks says he had kangaroos, hedgehogs and a 16-foot-long python and took them to schools to teach children about the animals.

But Stacks says of the 500 animals confiscated only about 300 survived

"Now what I want to focus on is getting my animals back to my zoo safely with me, and start building my life back together."

7 Action News has reached out to Romulus police for their reaction to the charges being dropped. We are waiting to hear back.