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.
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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.