Michigan

Charges filed after monkey in cage, hopping wallabies found at home in Mottville Township

MOTTVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — Investigators have discovered exotic animals living in foul conditions at a house in southwestern Michigan, including an aggressive monkey in a cage and wallabies hopping around.

St. Joseph County animal control officers were working with a Battle Creek-area zoo to remove and assess the animals Friday in Mottville Township.

The Kalamazoo Gazette says the animals included an albino wallaby. Wallabies sometimes are mistakenly identified as kangaroos.

Troy Leiby, 40, and Jessica Archberger, 40, were each arraigned on one charge of animal abandonment and cruelty involving 10 or more animals; and a second charge of animal killing and/or torturing. Archberger also faces a charge of obstruction of justice, the Kalamzaoo Gazette reported.

Sheriff Bradley Balk says the pair may have formerly operated an exotic animal shop, first in Granger, Indiana, and then in Elkhart, Indiana.

Balk says the house had a “nasty” smell.

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