EPPING: Animal sanctuary raided by police (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

EPPING: Animal sanctuary raided by police

7:50am Tuesday 10th November 2009

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A WOMAN who runs an animal sanctuary has spoken of her shock after her home was raided by police following allegations that she was selling rare tortoises illegally.

Tracy Cooper, 43, who runs the Small Animals Boarding and Rescue centre at her house in Hobbs Cross Road, Theydon Garnon, Epping, said she was left shaken after six officers clad in bullet-proof vests turned up saying they had a warrant for her arrest last month.

Ms Cooper, who has been bailed by police until December, has protested her innocence, saying that while she has given away some of the reptiles to other families, she has only ever received donations for her centre in return.

She said: “The whole thing is just bizarre. When I realised it wasn't a wind-up or a mistake I just went into shock.

“I run this place completely voluntarily, I don't make a penny from it and it costs me around £40,000 a year to run.

“The police spent three hours turning my house upside down at taxpayers' expense and they treated me like a dangerous criminal.

“I can't keep all the animals we get in here, there's just no room so we have to give some away.”

Ms Cooper said she currently looks after 23 tortoises, alongside ferrets and parrots, but only eight of them are of the rare species the police were interested in.

She added that she is accredited with the RSPCA and other animal welfare organisations.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We can confirm that a woman from Theydon Garnon is currently on police bail until early December while an investigation continues into a possible breach of the Control of Trade in Endangered Species regulations.”

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