Bad Guy Steve and Sharla Willer- Pets of Class (Pueblo Colorado).

[bloop]

What part evokes suspicion in the first place? The op never even bothered to support anything he said.

I know. That is what i mean! 'Emraeclark' posting that we should read the ORIGINAL post that aroused suspicion before reposting the entire first post again.

 

[emraeclark]

Really was hoping to never have to post one of these... here it goes.

The majority of the communication is done via text, phone call, or in person, seeing as though they live only 30 minutes away from me. I obviously only have records of the text messages, and would be glad to forward them to anyone who is interested. If there is a way of copying them/time stamps onto the computer I'd love to know and I'll post those up as proof, as I'm unsure how to show a text message to someone across the internet short of maybe taking a picture of it?

August 31: 12:17 PM- I contact them offering my large 14’+ male tiger reticulated python, and a small pair of boas. They are getting into breeding reticulated pythons and can use the boas for the store- I have no use for any of the 3 as I got the boas on trade (and don’t do boas) and replaced the male with a higher end morph. I tell them I am asking $400 for the male and the 2 boas.

I get a response later at 4:36 stating they don’t have the 400 for the retic right now and at 4:41 I get a response of “All we have is 200 right now, but we wants the retic & boas, Can u work w us please?!?”
Aug 31 4:48 PM I talk to them and they end up offering me $200 up front “Come talk to us we’ll give you 200”
I ask if they want me to bring the retic, and say I’d need collateral or something until the rest is paid. Offering to watch something of theirs until they pay the rest.
At 4:52 I get the text “Ican write something up & we all sign it” in response. I think sure, a contract would be great.
I drive down with the retic and 2 boas, and hand them over for $200, we talk about a contract in person, but they are late to doing an aquarium set up so I end up letting it slide. I wasn’t too worried with a pet store attempting to scam me especially since I had done business with them before and helped them with some various reptile stuff.
I remind them on Sept 7 about the money being owed and I get the following response:
Sept 7: 8:44 PM “We will get u ur money don’t worry!!!”
I reply back asking how soon they’ll have it.
Sept 7: 8:45 PM “I don’t know right now I’m sorry. Too bad ur not interested in the hedgehog”. I had looked at a hedgehog but didn’t feel a single hedgehog was worth $200 and would rather have the cash, so I declined the offer.

On Sept 9th I remind them again that I need the money, I try putting a deadline of the 18th on it to try and get the last bit of my money. I get no real direct responses. I ask again on the 15th and get no response again.
This slides until Oct 28th, shortly before repticon. I end up getting ahold of him via the phone and agreeing to meet sometime around repticon – as they are driving through my city on their way and I could meet them there or in my city somewhere along the interstate. After personal threats from Steve via the phone- so we agree to meet on their way home from repticon. We agree he will have $100 for me that day and $100 the Saturday following. I meet them around 8:10 and get $100 from them.
The next weekend I get in contact with them and don’t hear anything back. I’m told at 12:50 that he’ll get back with me later and his phone is at the store and is about dead.
I’m told at 12:55 “I don’t know that he has the cash. Someone hit our car again yesterday”.
I ask if they have anything on trade instead, so I can put this debt behind us and get on with my life. I understand things happen, but it’s been over 2 months now.
We end up talking about a fellow reptile keeper and at 1:53 I receive “Yeah Steve mentioned we owed you money”. At this point they have paid me $300, and they are admitting to owing more. I again let it slide, giving them the benefit of the doubt again.
I’m texted on Thur Nov 22 saying that they needed to get rid of the big snakes and to let me know if anyone is interested by Monday. I mention the fact I don’t have much cash but can work something out.
At 12:25 I get “I know that. Neither are we. We only owe you 100 anyway. Just let us know if you know anyone, we need the money to live off of.” Admitting again to owing me the last $100.
On the 27th they say they have them sold, on the 28th I ask how much and they reply $1500, I say I need my $100 and I want to be done with this nonsense.
I get no responses back, and on the 9th of December at 12:14 I ask when I can pick up the last $100, they respond they never got paid. I’m in the market for a few big females and have cash to spend so I offer them $500 and to scratch off the $100 I owe in trade for their large female tiger. I don’t hear anything back for a couple days.
On the 12th I get ahold of them again and I say I need my $100, and I’m not waiting for a buyer if they don’t want to sell to me, and it isn’t my problem anymore what drama they have going on or what deals they have going on. I’m told at 1:32 AM “I don’t have it right now, sorry” at 1:37 “There isn’t anything we can do. I can’t pull a hundred bucks” again at 1:55 AM: but we don’t have a hundred bucks”.
I’m told to call his phone (by his wife) until he wakes up, so I did, he answered by yelling at me, saying he doesn’t owe me any money, and claiming the snake is sick.
They then have gone on to claim they took the snake to a local vet the next day after getting it, and said it was sick. I tell them I will take this to court, and I get “going to court for 100 bucks? Ok I guess”.
On the 13th after I type up a long facebook message I get told “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip”
Now somehow they are saying they don’t owe me money, that they snake I sold them was sick and they took it to the vet the next day. I know when I get animals, I check immediately if they are sick, and if I find problems- I contact the seller as soon as I can, ESPECIALLY if I still owe money on the animal and haven’t paid it off, as it’s much easier to communicate/work something out rather than 3.5 months down the road.

I know right now the shop is closed down and they quit it and are in a pretty bad luck streak, but hopefully this warns others about them in case they try to do business with anyone else in the near future.

 

[bloop]

What is this proving??

 

[emraeclark]

I didn't do that. Polite inquiries in 3 month intervals. Really was hoping to never have to post one of these... here it goes.

The majority of the communication is done via text, phone call, or in person, seeing as though they live only 30 minutes away from me. I obviously only have records of the text messages, and would be glad to forward them to anyone who is interested. If there is a way of copying them/time stamps onto the computer I'd love to know and I'll post those up as proof, as I'm unsure how to show a text message to someone across the internet short of maybe taking a picture of it?

August 31: 12:17 PM- I contact them offering my large 14’+ male tiger reticulated python, and a small pair of boas. They are getting into breeding reticulated pythons and can use the boas for the store- I have no use for any of the 3 as I got the boas on trade (and don’t do boas) and replaced the male with a higher end morph. I tell them I am asking $400 for the male and the 2 boas.

I get a response later at 4:36 stating they don’t have the 400 for the retic right now and at 4:41 I get a response of “All we have is 200 right now, but we wants the retic & boas, Can u work w us please?!?”
Aug 31 4:48 PM I talk to them and they end up offering me $200 up front “Come talk to us we’ll give you 200”
I ask if they want me to bring the retic, and say I’d need collateral or something until the rest is paid. Offering to watch something of theirs until they pay the rest.
At 4:52 I get the text “Ican write something up & we all sign it” in response. I think sure, a contract would be great.
I drive down with the retic and 2 boas, and hand them over for $200, we talk about a contract in person, but they are late to doing an aquarium set up so I end up letting it slide. I wasn’t too worried with a pet store attempting to scam me especially since I had done business with them before and helped them with some various reptile stuff.
I remind them on Sept 7 about the money being owed and I get the following response:
Sept 7: 8:44 PM “We will get u ur money don’t worry!!!”
I reply back asking how soon they’ll have it.
Sept 7: 8:45 PM “I don’t know right now I’m sorry. Too bad ur not interested in the hedgehog”. I had looked at a hedgehog but didn’t feel a single hedgehog was worth $200 and would rather have the cash, so I declined the offer.

On Sept 9th I remind them again that I need the money, I try putting a deadline of the 18th on it to try and get the last bit of my money. I get no real direct responses. I ask again on the 15th and get no response again.
This slides until Oct 28th, shortly before repticon. I end up getting ahold of him via the phone and agreeing to meet sometime around repticon – as they are driving through my city on their way and I could meet them there or in my city somewhere along the interstate. After personal threats from Steve via the phone- so we agree to meet on their way home from repticon. We agree he will have $100 for me that day and $100 the Saturday following. I meet them around 8:10 and get $100 from them.
The next weekend I get in contact with them and don’t hear anything back. I’m told at 12:50 that he’ll get back with me later and his phone is at the store and is about dead.
I’m told at 12:55 “I don’t know that he has the cash. Someone hit our car again yesterday”.
I ask if they have anything on trade instead, so I can put this debt behind us and get on with my life. I understand things happen, but it’s been over 2 months now.
We end up talking about a fellow reptile keeper and at 1:53 I receive “Yeah Steve mentioned we owed you money”. At this point they have paid me $300, and they are admitting to owing more. I again let it slide, giving them the benefit of the doubt again.
I’m texted on Thur Nov 22 saying that they needed to get rid of the big snakes and to let me know if anyone is interested by Monday. I mention the fact I don’t have much cash but can work something out.
At 12:25 I get “I know that. Neither are we. We only owe you 100 anyway. Just let us know if you know anyone, we need the money to live off of.” Admitting again to owing me the last $100.
On the 27th they say they have them sold, on the 28th I ask how much and they reply $1500, I say I need my $100 and I want to be done with this nonsense.
I get no responses back, and on the 9th of December at 12:14 I ask when I can pick up the last $100, they respond they never got paid. I’m in the market for a few big females and have cash to spend so I offer them $500 and to scratch off the $100 I owe in trade for their large female tiger. I don’t hear anything back for a couple days.
On the 12th I get ahold of them again and I say I need my $100, and I’m not waiting for a buyer if they don’t want to sell to me, and it isn’t my problem anymore what drama they have going on or what deals they have going on. I’m told at 1:32 AM “I don’t have it right now, sorry” at 1:37 “There isn’t anything we can do. I can’t pull a hundred bucks” again at 1:55 AM: but we don’t have a hundred bucks”.
I’m told to call his phone (by his wife) until he wakes up, so I did, he answered by yelling at me, saying he doesn’t owe me any money, and claiming the snake is sick.
They then have gone on to claim they took the snake to a local vet the next day after getting it, and said it was sick. I tell them I will take this to court, and I get “going to court for 100 bucks? Ok I guess”.
On the 13th after I type up a long facebook message I get told “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip”
Now somehow they are saying they don’t owe me money, that they snake I sold them was sick and they took it to the vet the next day. I know when I get animals, I check immediately if they are sick, and if I find problems- I contact the seller as soon as I can, ESPECIALLY if I still owe money on the animal and haven’t paid it off, as it’s much easier to communicate/work something out rather than 3.5 months down the road.

I know right now the shop is closed down and they quit it and are in a pretty bad luck streak, but hopefully this warns others about them in case they try to do business with anyone else in the near future.

 

[bloop]

Stop reposting the op's post. It really is getting you nowhere.
It is like a child screaming the same thing over and over again, louder and louder until the person they are screaming at caves.

All you have is a hunch that these people MIGHT have done something with one of the hedgehogs you GAVE to these people. You havent provided proof of trying to contact them and there is no proof they have done anything wrong.

Proof is the key word here, not suspicion.

 

[emraeclark]

She probably did...

Melony - you do know that nobody is even bothering to read your posts that repeat the opening post of this thread, right? So, if you are including anything other than that original content, it isn't being seen. If you have a legitimate reason for continuing to post it, other than as a form of childish foot stomping, please use the quote function AND put your relevant comments after it.

Really was hoping to never have to post one of these... here it goes.

The majority of the communication is done via text, phone call, or in person, seeing as though they live only 30 minutes away from me. I obviously only have records of the text messages, and would be glad to forward them to anyone who is interested. If there is a way of copying them/time stamps onto the computer I'd love to know and I'll post those up as proof, as I'm unsure how to show a text message to someone across the internet short of maybe taking a picture of it?

August 31: 12:17 PM- I contact them offering my large 14’+ male tiger reticulated python, and a small pair of boas. They are getting into breeding reticulated pythons and can use the boas for the store- I have no use for any of the 3 as I got the boas on trade (and don’t do boas) and replaced the male with a higher end morph. I tell them I am asking $400 for the male and the 2 boas.

I get a response later at 4:36 stating they don’t have the 400 for the retic right now and at 4:41 I get a response of “All we have is 200 right now, but we wants the retic & boas, Can u work w us please?!?”
Aug 31 4:48 PM I talk to them and they end up offering me $200 up front “Come talk to us we’ll give you 200”
I ask if they want me to bring the retic, and say I’d need collateral or something until the rest is paid. Offering to watch something of theirs until they pay the rest.
At 4:52 I get the text “Ican write something up & we all sign it” in response. I think sure, a contract would be great.
I drive down with the retic and 2 boas, and hand them over for $200, we talk about a contract in person, but they are late to doing an aquarium set up so I end up letting it slide. I wasn’t too worried with a pet store attempting to scam me especially since I had done business with them before and helped them with some various reptile stuff.
I remind them on Sept 7 about the money being owed and I get the following response:
Sept 7: 8:44 PM “We will get u ur money don’t worry!!!”
I reply back asking how soon they’ll have it.
Sept 7: 8:45 PM “I don’t know right now I’m sorry. Too bad ur not interested in the hedgehog”. I had looked at a hedgehog but didn’t feel a single hedgehog was worth $200 and would rather have the cash, so I declined the offer.

On Sept 9th I remind them again that I need the money, I try putting a deadline of the 18th on it to try and get the last bit of my money. I get no real direct responses. I ask again on the 15th and get no response again.
This slides until Oct 28th, shortly before repticon. I end up getting ahold of him via the phone and agreeing to meet sometime around repticon – as they are driving through my city on their way and I could meet them there or in my city somewhere along the interstate. After personal threats from Steve via the phone- so we agree to meet on their way home from repticon. We agree he will have $100 for me that day and $100 the Saturday following. I meet them around 8:10 and get $100 from them.
The next weekend I get in contact with them and don’t hear anything back. I’m told at 12:50 that he’ll get back with me later and his phone is at the store and is about dead.
I’m told at 12:55 “I don’t know that he has the cash. Someone hit our car again yesterday”.
I ask if they have anything on trade instead, so I can put this debt behind us and get on with my life. I understand things happen, but it’s been over 2 months now.
We end up talking about a fellow reptile keeper and at 1:53 I receive “Yeah Steve mentioned we owed you money”. At this point they have paid me $300, and they are admitting to owing more. I again let it slide, giving them the benefit of the doubt again.
I’m texted on Thur Nov 22 saying that they needed to get rid of the big snakes and to let me know if anyone is interested by Monday. I mention the fact I don’t have much cash but can work something out.
At 12:25 I get “I know that. Neither are we. We only owe you 100 anyway. Just let us know if you know anyone, we need the money to live off of.” Admitting again to owing me the last $100.
On the 27th they say they have them sold, on the 28th I ask how much and they reply $1500, I say I need my $100 and I want to be done with this nonsense.
I get no responses back, and on the 9th of December at 12:14 I ask when I can pick up the last $100, they respond they never got paid. I’m in the market for a few big females and have cash to spend so I offer them $500 and to scratch off the $100 I owe in trade for their large female tiger. I don’t hear anything back for a couple days.
On the 12th I get ahold of them again and I say I need my $100, and I’m not waiting for a buyer if they don’t want to sell to me, and it isn’t my problem anymore what drama they have going on or what deals they have going on. I’m told at 1:32 AM “I don’t have it right now, sorry” at 1:37 “There isn’t anything we can do. I can’t pull a hundred bucks” again at 1:55 AM: but we don’t have a hundred bucks”.
I’m told to call his phone (by his wife) until he wakes up, so I did, he answered by yelling at me, saying he doesn’t owe me any money, and claiming the snake is sick.
They then have gone on to claim they took the snake to a local vet the next day after getting it, and said it was sick. I tell them I will take this to court, and I get “going to court for 100 bucks? Ok I guess”.
On the 13th after I type up a long facebook message I get told “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip”
Now somehow they are saying they don’t owe me money, that they snake I sold them was sick and they took it to the vet the next day. I know when I get animals, I check immediately if they are sick, and if I find problems- I contact the seller as soon as I can, ESPECIALLY if I still owe money on the animal and haven’t paid it off, as it’s much easier to communicate/work something out rather than 3.5 months down the road.

I know right now the shop is closed down and they quit it and are in a pretty bad luck streak, but hopefully this warns others about them in case they try to do business with anyone else in the near future.

 

[Lucille]

Melony, I don't believe that there were ever any hedgehogs because you seem to be actually running from the responsibility of proof.
Right now, I'm thinking you are probably a child and maybe got caught up in one of those FB disagreements and you think that by doing what you are doing, you are hurting someone. You are, you are hurting yourself.

 

[KORBIN5895]

I am starting to believe that Melony isn't capable of coherent communication.

 

[emraeclark]

Interesting history.

Really was hoping to never have to post one of these... here it goes.

The majority of the communication is done via text, phone call, or in person, seeing as though they live only 30 minutes away from me. I obviously only have records of the text messages, and would be glad to forward them to anyone who is interested. If there is a way of copying them/time stamps onto the computer I'd love to know and I'll post those up as proof, as I'm unsure how to show a text message to someone across the internet short of maybe taking a picture of it?

August 31: 12:17 PM- I contact them offering my large 14’+ male tiger reticulated python, and a small pair of boas. They are getting into breeding reticulated pythons and can use the boas for the store- I have no use for any of the 3 as I got the boas on trade (and don’t do boas) and replaced the male with a higher end morph. I tell them I am asking $400 for the male and the 2 boas.

I get a response later at 4:36 stating they don’t have the 400 for the retic right now and at 4:41 I get a response of “All we have is 200 right now, but we wants the retic & boas, Can u work w us please?!?”
Aug 31 4:48 PM I talk to them and they end up offering me $200 up front “Come talk to us we’ll give you 200”
I ask if they want me to bring the retic, and say I’d need collateral or something until the rest is paid. Offering to watch something of theirs until they pay the rest.
At 4:52 I get the text “Ican write something up & we all sign it” in response. I think sure, a contract would be great.
I drive down with the retic and 2 boas, and hand them over for $200, we talk about a contract in person, but they are late to doing an aquarium set up so I end up letting it slide. I wasn’t too worried with a pet store attempting to scam me especially since I had done business with them before and helped them with some various reptile stuff.
I remind them on Sept 7 about the money being owed and I get the following response:
Sept 7: 8:44 PM “We will get u ur money don’t worry!!!”
I reply back asking how soon they’ll have it.
Sept 7: 8:45 PM “I don’t know right now I’m sorry. Too bad ur not interested in the hedgehog”. I had looked at a hedgehog but didn’t feel a single hedgehog was worth $200 and would rather have the cash, so I declined the offer.

On Sept 9th I remind them again that I need the money, I try putting a deadline of the 18th on it to try and get the last bit of my money. I get no real direct responses. I ask again on the 15th and get no response again.
This slides until Oct 28th, shortly before repticon. I end up getting ahold of him via the phone and agreeing to meet sometime around repticon – as they are driving through my city on their way and I could meet them there or in my city somewhere along the interstate. After personal threats from Steve via the phone- so we agree to meet on their way home from repticon. We agree he will have $100 for me that day and $100 the Saturday following. I meet them around 8:10 and get $100 from them.
The next weekend I get in contact with them and don’t hear anything back. I’m told at 12:50 that he’ll get back with me later and his phone is at the store and is about dead.
I’m told at 12:55 “I don’t know that he has the cash. Someone hit our car again yesterday”.
I ask if they have anything on trade instead, so I can put this debt behind us and get on with my life. I understand things happen, but it’s been over 2 months now.
We end up talking about a fellow reptile keeper and at 1:53 I receive “Yeah Steve mentioned we owed you money”. At this point they have paid me $300, and they are admitting to owing more. I again let it slide, giving them the benefit of the doubt again.
I’m texted on Thur Nov 22 saying that they needed to get rid of the big snakes and to let me know if anyone is interested by Monday. I mention the fact I don’t have much cash but can work something out.
At 12:25 I get “I know that. Neither are we. We only owe you 100 anyway. Just let us know if you know anyone, we need the money to live off of.” Admitting again to owing me the last $100.
On the 27th they say they have them sold, on the 28th I ask how much and they reply $1500, I say I need my $100 and I want to be done with this nonsense.
I get no responses back, and on the 9th of December at 12:14 I ask when I can pick up the last $100, they respond they never got paid. I’m in the market for a few big females and have cash to spend so I offer them $500 and to scratch off the $100 I owe in trade for their large female tiger. I don’t hear anything back for a couple days.
On the 12th I get ahold of them again and I say I need my $100, and I’m not waiting for a buyer if they don’t want to sell to me, and it isn’t my problem anymore what drama they have going on or what deals they have going on. I’m told at 1:32 AM “I don’t have it right now, sorry” at 1:37 “There isn’t anything we can do. I can’t pull a hundred bucks” again at 1:55 AM: but we don’t have a hundred bucks”.
I’m told to call his phone (by his wife) until he wakes up, so I did, he answered by yelling at me, saying he doesn’t owe me any money, and claiming the snake is sick.
They then have gone on to claim they took the snake to a local vet the next day after getting it, and said it was sick. I tell them I will take this to court, and I get “going to court for 100 bucks? Ok I guess”.
On the 13th after I type up a long facebook message I get told “You can’t squeeze blood out of a turnip”
Now somehow they are saying they don’t owe me money, that they snake I sold them was sick and they took it to the vet the next day. I know when I get animals, I check immediately if they are sick, and if I find problems- I contact the seller as soon as I can, ESPECIALLY if I still owe money on the animal and haven’t paid it off, as it’s much easier to communicate/work something out rather than 3.5 months down the road.

I know right now the shop is closed down and they quit it and are in a pretty bad luck streak, but hopefully this warns others about them in case they try to do business with anyone else in the near future.

 

[Millinex]

Sorry that my thread has gone so haywire. I don't know Melony, I don't know anything about their agreement on her end. All I remember was seeing both hedgehogs the last time I was at their store before it closed- and they where offered to me in exchange for the debt they owed me on the snake, they also offered to sell them to me, but that is irrelevant as it was done in person and is not able to be proven.

Wow. Seems to me like someone has a very suspicious and active imagination. I would also like to point out that the op never even substantiated his claim so everything in this thread has been unsupported claims.

No, I never did. At the time I couldn't figure out how to get screen captures to work from my phone, and I didn't own a camera to take pictures of the text messages. I didn't have money to invest into buying a Camera, didn't have one to borrow (hard life I know), and honestly, over $100 it wasn't worth my money or my effort at the time (working full time at a garbage job to support 2 people, the animals taking my time, other obligations, etc). I dropped it.

So... can the OP maybe provide some evidence to further prove his point? I want to see screen captures of the text messages.

See above.^

Now, I would be all for finding a way to prove that now, but about a month ago I sold the old phone when I upgraded to a new one, the extra $100 paid for the uhaul to get me moved into a better situation after a few too many run ins with my apt complex and their carbon monoxide detectors failing 3 times in under a year, and having to be evacuated and being ill from it.

Again, none of that is really "relevant" I'm admitting I can't prove it now, if someone would have asked me and cared for me to prove it a year ago, maybe I could have found a way to go the extra mile to prove it, but at this point- nearly everyone who lives around here knows how they are and it's not a huge deal.

There is at least an update to what happened to the animal. After they took custody the shop closed soon after, all the big snakes ended up stored in storage totes in a cold basement for several months with no food or water. At one point, her husband (ex now?) decided to attempt suicide. In the process she decided it was time to get rid of the big snakes as she just couldn't handle them, and gave the entire group (6-10 of them I think) to a friend of mine up here in the springs.

The animals where in EXTREMELY poor shape when they got up here, I'll have to inquire if any pictures where taken of the animals or if the 2 guys who worked to fix them where too busy- fixing them to bother with pictures. I know mostly about what happened to my snake. He went down there a bit heavy at 60-75lbs, he was my garage disposal and had a little extra weight on him. When he came back, he was less than 30. He drank over 2 gallons of water within the first few hours of being rescued, they had to soak him and remove several layers of stuck shed that was described as "so thick it was like cardboard, you could write on it with an ink pen". I know it was very painful for him, he was very angry the whole time, and it reopened scar tissue on his tail (from the owner before me feeding him live prairie dogs) that bled a good deal. I know multiple people (who if they have accounts can chime in) who can vouch for the condition he was in when he came back.

Now I'll say the following:

1. I can't prove what happened, a few people know what happened, if they have accounts and ever see this thread and wish to speak up. Cool, if not. Cool.
2. It's $100 that I got shorted, and they destroyed their business and reputation over it and what happened to my animal.
3. The snake is in the care of a friend of mine, the snake is doing very well, has put back on a lot of weight, has had good sheds, is back on eating food well, has been showing interest in breeding, and is back "to his old self".
4. I will likely getting the snake back at some point in the future, as I do have an emotional connection to the animal, but I don't have the funds with buying a new house, Christmas coming up, and a baby due Dec. 24, but myself and his current owner agree- he will end up somewhere with someone who cares about him, because he's already been through hell.

I have no doubt they probably scammed the hedgehogs. I sold the retic to them after they showed me their big female tiger they wanted to pair him with, they showed me the display cage in the store he would be staying in, they assured me he would be fed well, taken care of, and be a part of their breeding program as he wanted to breed retics so badly. I was a bit new to retics, and I trusted them. I made a mistake, that's on me, and the snake.

I'll be happy to answer any questions anyone may have.

 

[Lucille]

Sept 7: 8:45 PM “I don’t know right now I’m sorry. Too bad ur not interested in the hedgehog”. I had looked at a hedgehog but didn’t feel a single hedgehog was worth $200 and would rather have the cash, so I declined the offer.

All I remember was seeing both hedgehogs the last time I was at their store before it closed- and they where offered to me in exchange for the debt they owed me on the snake, they also offered to sell them to me, but that is irrelevant as it was done in person and is not able to be proven.

There does seem to be a discrepancy about the number of hedgehogs you claim you saw.

 

[KORBIN5895]

There does seem to be a discrepancy about the number of hedgehogs you claim you saw.

How about the discrepancy where he upgraded to a better morph male?

How do you know the hedgehog was Melony's?

 

[KORBIN5895]

Something is wrong with this whole thread and the undisclosed third party quotations are piling up like dunes in the desert.

 

[Millinex]

There does seem to be a discrepancy about the number of hedgehogs you claim you saw.

Honestly, this was well over a year ago and a lot of time has gone by. If I recall correctly they paid me $200 cash the first visit when I dropped him off, they offered me a single hedgehog (I believe with a cage if I remember right) for the remaining balance. I told them no, that I can buy hedgehogs for less than the $200 left they owed me.

There where 2 hedgehogs in the cage. I know one was an adult proven female, didn't ask about the other she didn't say- and honestly I didn't care as I wasn't interested.

If I remember right (again, all memory, I've gone through a hell of a lot in the last few months and this isn't high priority in the memory bank) they did offer me the "pair" of them at some point between paying the $200 remaining and the final payment they made for $100. Honestly I don't remember if the text said hedgehog or hedgehogs plural. It was a 5k text conversation, it's gone.

How about the discrepancy where he upgraded to a better morph male?

This is a discrepancy? I did upgrade, I still have the new male with me, I he's sitting 10 feet away from me paired with my big female tiger. I did upgrade, but it didn't come from them.

 

[Millinex]

Something is wrong with this whole thread and the undisclosed third party quotations are piling up like dunes in the desert.

Sorry, missed posts while typing the last one. I'm not really using them, if the people want to step forward fine, but I don't believe any of the local people that have had these interactions frequent the forums.

Also, who knows if the hedgehogs where Melony's. I saw 2 hedgehogs in their whole shop, I was told they only had those 2, wanted to breed, but couldn't get the USDA license yet to do so. Other than that, I didn't pay much attention, because I didn't care.

 

[Lucille]

At the time I couldn't figure out how to get screen captures to work from my phone, and I didn't own a camera to take pictures of the text messages.

This occurred in August. A peek at your past posts shows an at you posted in July, with a picture, so there was a camera available then.

 

[Millinex]

This occurred in August. A peek at your past posts shows an at you posted in July, with a picture, so there was a camera available then.

Go search the exif data. It will show you that the pictures where taken and uploaded with...

YOU GUESSED IT!

A mobile phone.

The Camera is attached to the phone, and can not be used to take pictures of the screen.

I do not own a digital camera and have no intention of ever owning one, especially with the new phone (s3 soon to be s4) taking such great pictures for me.

 

[WebSlave]

Really was hoping to never have to post one of these... here it goes.

Warning: Well, let's make a deal, shall we? You post another duplicate post in this thread as a bumping method (or for any other reason, really) and I will ban you from this site. How is that for a deal?

If someone didn't read your original post, they certainly aren't going to read subsequent ones. So you are just spamming this forum now.

 

[KORBIN5895]

Sorry, missed posts while typing the last one. I'm not really using them, if the people want to step forward fine, but I don't believe any of the local people that have had these interactions frequent the forums.

Also, who knows if the hedgehogs where Melony's. I saw 2 hedgehogs in their whole shop, I was told they only had those 2, wanted to breed, but couldn't get the USDA license yet to do so. Other than that, I didn't pay much attention, because I didn't care.

So they were looking to breed hedgehogs...... and you assumed that they were Melony's.... which were both females.... sure seems legit to me.

Also I am the type of person that sees my snakes as breeding stock and inventory. I only have one snake I have any attachment to. Of all of my snakes she is probably my cheapest snake bit there is no way I am going to "upgrade". That's where I see a discrepancy.

 

[Millinex]

This occurred in August. A peek at your past posts shows an at you posted in July, with a picture, so there was a camera available then.

So they were looking to breed hedgehogs...... and you assumed that they were Melony's.... which were both females.... sure seems legit to me.

Also I am the type of person that sees my snakes as breeding stock and inventory. I only have one snake I have any attachment to. Of all of my snakes she is probably my cheapest snake bit there is no way I am going to "upgrade". That's where I see a discrepancy.

They only had one set of hedgehogs in the entire store, they only mentioned those hedgehogs and the time frame seems about right. Could there have been more? Sure. Could they have been other hedgehogs? Sure. Did they know anything about hedgehogs let alone how to breed, how to sex? Dunno. I just went off what I was told. I knew them fairly well and they had mentioned they just got them, and those where the only ones they ever had in the store/ever mentioned to me. Not saying they where her, saying it's plausible and I wouldn't doubt it.

As for the "upgrade" part. I originally was living in an apartment. I had limited space and wanted to breed, I had no problem with them having the animal because I TRUSTED them with him, I have no worries about the situation he is in at my friends house, and I'm 100% fine with it. I had the opportunity to upgrade to a higher end male (one that was a proven breeder, the snake in question had no desire to breed, paired with 3 females).

I sold him, and purchased the hire end male to further my breeding stock, all of the animals in my home are pets, but at the time, I had one cage available, not to, and had to make a judgement call if I wanted to proceed breeding snakes.

The other factor which helped me decide to place him in a new home was the fact my other half at the time had grown up her entire life terrified of snakes, after some terrible large constrictor encounters with a relative and her father early in life. She was very nervous around them, and suddenly we had several in the living room of the apartment we where staying.

The male in question (named diego), terrified her, my females where laid back, not very active, they didn't bother her "as much". Diego, he was a different animal, Diego was smart, he knew how the cage opened, he knew where things where, he was ACTIVE. His level of activity and the way he'd look out his cage at her frankly was too frightening, he was just an over the top animal. I also had to rehome a female I rescued at the time from some guy who used to get her stoned in order to handle her, she was absolutely crazy and wanted nothing more than to tear someone in half, she got rehomed as well to another friend of mine.

The only reason Diego EVER left my care to them was because I trusted them, and considered them my friends. At one point we discussed them opening a second pet store up here in Colorado Springs with me running it and them financing it, back when we first met, I helped them a few times in store sell animals and explain husbandry of certain animals. I trusted them with an animal I cared about, and felt like it was a reasonable home for him to go to.

I felt like it was a good life for him to go in to, as much as I cared about him, I cared enough about him to upgrade (so I thought) his situation.

As for the hedgehogs, I only saw them for a few minutes, but after they scammed me, and the stories I've heard locally coming from a former/employee and friends who have dealt with them- all I'm adding is "I wouldn't be shocked if Melony was telling the truth".

No matter how obnoxious Melony is, or how there is absolutely ZERO proof of any of her claims, from my experience, what happened to her isn't too far fetched, as honestly, the only reason I didn't press legal charges, go to court over my animal, animal cruelty, child neglect, fraud, etc- is because I didn't want the kids stripped away from their parents in the process. Frankly, in my eyes- these 2 are scummy people, but their kids didn't deserve to lose their parents, especially after their father just spent time in a coma after a suicide attempt...

Just my OPINIONS on the hedgehog stuff, but I'm more than happy to explain anything regarding the snake I sold them, that's not an issue I have nothing to hide, especially since the snake is close by now and I get to see him and visit with him, hell I provide the feeder rabbits for him sometimes LOL.