The lawyer for a New Zealand couple facing animal cruelty charges in America is unfairly trying to pin blame on an undercover investigator from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), the organisation says.
Peta investigator Howard Goldman was working for the Texas-based animal import business US Global Exotics, owned by New Zealanders Jasen and Vanessa Shaw, and reporting to Peta on alleged animal neglect.
The business was raided shortly before Christmas and more than 26,000 animals were seized.
Many were dead or dying, apparently because of the conditions in which they were kept.
The Shaws now faced animal cruelty charges, but their lawyer Lance Evans had accused Mr Goldman of deliberately neglecting animals to further Peta's agenda.
In The Fort Worth Star Telegram newspaper Mr Evans said Mr Goldman could have done more to provide food, water and care for the animals that he said were being mistreated.
Instead, he secretly took photos, reported daily to Peta and never called authorities in the seven months he worked at Global Exotics.
The newspaper said Mr Goldman testified he was asked by Peta to apply for a job at US Global Exotics to investigate conditions and Peta paid him $135 for each day he turned in a report while working as snake caretaker.
In a statement to NZPA today, Peta said Mr Goldman was "the one person who actually cared about the animals".
Mr Goldman had "begged" the company's management to order food for the animals, along with asking for water, bedding and more space for the animals, Peta said.
"When his concerns were outright ignored and/or casually rebuffed, he treated the animals to the best of his ability."
US Global Exotics was fighting to regain custody of the animals seized in the raid on December 15. The Arlington Municipal Court was expected to rule on the future of the animals this week.
Another company employee, Paul Boiko, told the court hearing most animals were fed and watered regularly and a veterinarian visited weekly.
NZPA