Info Chris Eichele (Midgard Serpents Reptile Rescue)

[zd0827]

Hello, all.

My name is Zachary D'Alessio. I represent an organization based primarily in Raleigh, North Carolina, called Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas, or "RROTC" for short. This organization is a North Carolina state non-profit organization that has been around since 2011. We support our local, indigenous herpetofauna by providing wildlife rehabilitation & release services to help maintain our wildlife, and we support our local, captive herpetofauna. We are a collection of certified rehabilitators, researchers, former veterinary technicians & assistants, fellow herpetoculturists, and former breeders.

Enough about the introduction. I want to bring light to a troubling problem. This has mostly been a local (to North Carolina) complication that has reared its ugly head in many different aspects, and I want to provide all documentation that tracks its progression and downward spiral.

Chris Eichele, CEO & Founder of Midgard Serpents Reptile Rescue, in Cameron, North Carolina, has decided it would be in his best interest to not only lie about the different aspects of the RROTC & its members, but provide misinformation to the general public at large both in private communication and in the public setting. Mr. Eichele was approached in a civil manner via electronic communication and attempted phone calls. Eventually, I was able to get in touch with him. Mr. Eichele lied about many actions he took against our rescue mission, and when caught finally confessed to his actions. Then he used false reasons and conclusions he developed to back his decision to mark us so poorly and spread lies about our organization to the public at shows such as ReptiCon.

I leave this file, below (a PDF), which I compiled to show our communication and his responses to my inquiry. It also shows my responses to his accusations. I do not leave this file here to pass poor judgement on Chris Eichele or the remainder of the Midgard Serpents Reptile Rescue organization. I leave this here for you all to make your decision and opinion of the situation.

Thank you for your time & consideration.

Sincerely,

Zachary Matthew D'Alessio.
President of Reptile Rescue of the Carolinas.
NC WRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator.
NC WRC Endangered Species Permittee.
NR/NC Emergency Medical Provider.
NC Envenomation Response Team.

 

[zd0827]

Haha, I messed up my own title. NC Envenomation Responder* There is no Envenomation Response Team here, any more. But it seems I can't edit my post.

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[Snake-Queen]

That is a shame.


Chris, I know you have seen this, do you have a response? You words are in black and white.
As someone who donated to your auction in November, I am saddened to see you attack another rescue.

 

[dthami8t]

This is Diane (Chris's wife) i don't know all the details about all of this but all i know is Zach you have some nerve calling people out on stuff you do yourself...
let me share this so people can really see
on your Reptile rescue facebook you had the nerve to say

P.S. These problems come from the very same individual that refused, flat out refused, to assist with the cancer event we held last summer. Those that remember the event, was to help a young, 17-year-old girl, dying from terminal cancer attain her dream to see all kinds of reptiles before she came to pass. We asked for all the help we could and were not able to generate much assistance to attend this wonderful event for a girl who needed it most. But for whatever reason, Mr. Eichele determined that he would state publicly that because he does not wish to be associated with our organization, that he would NOT attend the event. His pride, apparently, got in the way of doing something nice for Ms. Ashley and I'm VERY sorry for the entire world and all of its people that such a person exists.

For you to bash someone for this during the time me and my husband was dealing with a miscarriage is just fucking ridiculous.... You have no idea what goes on in our personal life and you are no better than what you are so adamantly preaching against....maybe before making every attempt you can to discredit chris you should take a look at yourself ......

 

[Snake-Queen]

Zach, has done a good job posting his proof.

I would like to hear from Chris, who I have spoken to at length ... this whole debacle is sad.

 

[zd0827]

Danielle,

I'm sorry that you both had to go through that. I know how hard that must have been for you both. I'm not currently near my computer, but when I get home, I'll be more than happy to screen shot his actual response to the event, which was something along the lines of "we are not a part of RROTC. We refuse to contribute."

A simple, "I'm unable to attend" would have sufficed, but he had to go above and beyond to indicate that he did not want any association with the RROTC, even in an event designed to bring happiness to a terminally ill child. It was an open invitation event.

Until later,

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[midgardserpentsrr]

This will be the first and only time i will address this issue....

Yes i have told people he is not a 501c3 rescue = truth

Yes i have told people YOU do not have a rehab permit.
Here is the current listing from NCWRC Rehabber listings for wake county
KIMBERLY ASHBY RALEIGH (919) 656-3878 Mammals, Small
JACKIE BORKA RALEIGH (919) 846-1264 Mammals, Small
RUTH BROMER RALEIGH (919) 828-6068 Mammals, Small
CLAIRE EATON RALEIGH (919) 676-9715 Mammals, Small
SUSAN FORT RALEIGH (919) 786-1034 Mammals, Small
BETTY HOLLOWAY WAKE FOREST (919) 210-8485 Mammals, Small
JENNIFER HUMMEL RALEIGH (919) 844-0633 Mammals, Small
FRANCES LANCASTER RALEIGH (919) 821-4156 Mammals, Small
GREGORY LEWBART - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH (919) 513-6439 Amphibians; Reptiles
MARY ANN MCBRIDE RALEIGH (919) 830-0704 Mammals, Small; Reptiles
MARY MITCHELL RALEIGH (919) 782-1984 Mammals, Small
KELLEY ODELL RALEIGH (919) 606-6868 Mammals, Small; Reptiles
MICHELLE PRINCE FUQUAY VARINA (919) 639-0676 Mammals, Small
CHARLOTTE REAVES APEX (919) 264-6482 Mammals, Small
MICHELLE SCARAGLINO RALEIGH (919) 412-4112 Mammals, Small
STEVEN STONE - AMERICAN WILDLIFE REFUGE RALEIGH (919) 395-7749 Birds, Raptors
ALICIA WEBER - WILDLIFE WELFARE RALEIGH (919) 696-7292 Mammals, Small
SALLY WEBER - WILDLIFE WELFARE RALEIGH (919) 696-7292 Mammals, Small
MARILYN YOUNG FUQUAY VARINA (919) 552-9753 Mammals, Small

Yes i have heard about breeding behind the scenes taking in surrenders then breeding them...and i stated just that ...that i just HEARD people mention that.

i actually did ask San lee park Naturalist if she called you about keeping the venomous when the nature center burned down as i did not know of anyone else locally and i DID tell them that you knew alot about venomous...

Repticon did not want you back due to THEIR observations thats why Chad with CCSB was called in instead. i just repeated the reasons i was told...

YOU personally hold auctions of live animals (facebook) thats like a dog rescue auctioning off dogs???? A third party held our auction and funds were donated to us

this all started when you were asked to leave ANimall adoption facility in Cary and i was brought in to take over there reptile adoption facility.

We do all in our power to help the animals that come in (addressing the boa issue) i TOLD them the boa had a Resp issue that i treated. i also told them to bring it back here and i would take care of it or they could take it to the vets. But they informed me on the phone that you told them to surrender it to you which is a breach of contract with us...you have no right to intervene at all....

You blast me for not caring about the cancer event as my wife felt she had to voice her opinion causing us to make public a very private issue..

i have my time full with our rescue, my family and schooling and personally dont have time for any of this... You say what you will and do what you have to do...

are those my texts ....yes ... i love the way you make it out to be i was so hard to get ahold of when you texted me yet the text clearly you were upset i was trying to get ahold of you before 5:00.

the vet you claimed to work so closely with for years was not a herp vet - Truth - you admitted it to me on the phone and told me thats why you switched to vet students at nc state.

you stated to EVERYONE via posts and all you were no longer taking in animals as a rescue but was changing to focus on medical cases and conservation. but when i tell people you are no longer a rescue you get upset???? its your own words....
A friend of mine looking to rehome a boa had emailed him as well, as our organization previously
indicated we were only serving sick captive animals for a duration of time last year. I received an email
forward from my friend Matt, who had heard my frustration about this situation, and had inquired as to
what Chris Eicheleʼs personal opinion was on our organization. This is a copy of his forwarded email to
me. Chrisʼ response of concern to me was made to Matt on 12/12/2014 at a very late hour. This email
was forwarded to me on 12/13/2014.
Not to mention this email was sent on purpose to goad me into bashing you by a member of your own group on purpose....

you were forced to surrender a alligator to CCSB by NCWRC because you did not have appropriate housing available at the time. your permit was temporary and was revoked when tammy found out you were in an apartment and could not offer a large enough set up.

I dont sugar coat things i say what i feel people may not like it but ...hey thats life...
with the previous mentioned items not knowing anything else about a rescue and you heard all of that would you consider them legit?...

My goal is to care for the animals that come to us and do my best to make sure they have all they need... not to tip toe around public relations issues... if you dont like me so be it i really dont care everyone has there opinions. as i so clearly stated in the texts you provided when you started out you were inquisitive and always asking questions if you didnt know the answers and now IN MY OPINION you have turned into a know it all with a better than you attitude....my personal opinion yes did i tell anyone else that NO because it did not have anything to do with rescue work.

To sum it all up i guess you attack me all you want. i honestly dont care we have to much on our plate to deal with high school drama. you have you opinions i have mine everyone reading this has theirs as well.... Already sunk to much time with this that could have been spent with the animals....

Bash me, threaten to sue me, Tell people at repticon not to come to my table i really dont care... no more of my time will be spent on this....

 

[zd0827]

Diane* my phone corrected your name. Sorry about that.

 

[zd0827]

Large enough set up? He was in an 8 foot by 4 foot enclosure. Mind you that alligator was approximately 14 inches long. That alligator was under permit for rehabilitation procedures ONLY. Once rehabilitation was complete, I contacted Tammy with NC WRC, as per permit agreement, for permanent placement. Tammy coordinated the placement of that animal with CCSB after Keith Farmer, former NC Aquariums Permits Coordinator, observed the animal and shared his thoughts about the original decision to place him with Alligator Adventure in SC. The animal was not going to thrive there, per both Mr. Farmer's professional opinion and my own. Get your facts straight.

Now, we're not a rescue if we're not a 501-c(3)? Since when? Tell that to the other rescue organizations. If we only take in sick animals, does that disqualify us from being a rescue, too? We do not raffle off animals from animals we take in. If you actually review the posts, breeders approach us to conduct beneficial fundraisers on our behalf. Just as you have done at ReptiCon. The only difference is yours is fine at a show and ours isn't.

And you cannot disqualify me as a rehabilitator if I'm here with the actual permit. Instead of asking questions, you made false accusations and spread misinformation. It's not my fault I'm not on an online database, but clearly, I am certified in the permitted field you questioned.

Food for thought,

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[sgtman]

Sounds like alot of personal issues between yall. seems more bashing than something either rescue has done wrong
deal with it squash it and move on

 

[sgtman]

joined this site just to post that by the way friend of mine told me to come read it had to add my 2 centz lol

 

[Snake-Queen]

Both rescues are 501 c(3).

Zach, posted his permit for rehabilitation.

________________________________________

The problem, as I see it, is too much secondhand info is spread as gospel.

Chris, if someone asks about RROTC, just don't say anything, especially as it appears you do not like Zach & Zach should do the same.

 

[SofaKing]

Chris,

Your bringing up the fact that Zach doesn't have a permit to rehabilitate animals, via the list that was copied and pasted, but yet I didn't see your name on it and yet you were treating a boa. Kettle. . Black

By the way your wife did a great job speaking for you....

Zach, it's nice to see you kept your professionalism through this... so far

 

[Lucille]

This will be the first and only time i will address this issue....

Yes i have heard about breeding behind the scenes taking in surrenders then breeding them...and i stated just that ...that i just HEARD people mention that.

I'm not impressed. To come here and announce you will make one post, and have that post filled with unsubstantiated rumors, says more about you than anyone you accuse.

 

[zd0827]

Actually, we're not a 501-c(3) organization for two big reasons:

1) little to no grants or funding is available for reptiles and amphibians. We realize it has huge private resource benefits, though, we do not utilize it. Which leads to reason number two...
2) the process is not only expensive, but it also increases the administrative paperwork responsibility. Our goal is to rescue animals, regardless of where the money comes from. We're fortunate to have some fantastic contributors, though, we don't expect to make a living nor any financial gain in this mission. Our members completely and entirely support the rescue mission where donations cannot, and often times they do not manage to do so.

I'm just now getting home. Let me find the image sourcing the response to the cancer event. Again, you have my condolences regarding your miscarriage. You both, and your children, have my thoughts in that regard. It is a tough situation for any one that goes through such an event. I'm very sorry to hear you all went through that.

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[zd0827]

Snake-Queen, actually, I have countless emails that I can provide where we have deferred people to Chris because we did not have ample space to bring in certain animals. One such animal is iguanas, which is a constant problem in reptile rescue work it would seem.

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[Snake-Queen]

Snake-Queen, actually, I have countless emails that I can provide where we have deferred people to Chris because we did not have ample space to bring in certain animals. One such animal is iguanas, which is a constant problem in reptile rescue work it would seem.

Zachary D'Alessio.

I didn't mean to indicate you harbored any ill will towards Chris, or Midgard. I apologize if it seemed so.

 

[zd0827]

Snake-Queen,

You're OK. I didn't take it that way, I promise. I'm still looking for this darn message. I'm just now figuring out how to search in Facebook messages, and it's organization is very poor, haha.

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[zd0827]

I'm still looking for this dang message..... The organization/search function of Facebook is incredibly aggravating. (Pictured) ... I'll get it eventually, it just might take me fourteen billion years (sarcasm) because I can't search for the person's name, who he told his reasons (who then communicated to me her concerns about it) - I forgot who told me, it's been so long.

Also, Chris, you pulled up the database for certified rehabilitators from the NC WRC website. You're in Cameron, NC which is found in Moore County. I'm in Cary/Raleigh, NC which are found in Wake County. Funny thing is that NEITHER of us are listed in either county according to the site - it's likely not updated often. (Pictured).

This goes back to the assumption thing. If you had questions about my licenses, you should have asked me. Obviously, I have the paperwork in hand, and also additional ones. If you had a concern or an issue about the status of either myself, or any other rescue member for that matter, you should have brought it to the attention of the appropriate individuals, instead of misinforming the public about something you are clearly incorrect about.

What really upsets me about this entire incident is that I clearly gave you the opportunity to own up. You lied to me on several occasions in our communication, and it wasn't until I approached you with the same, undeniable proof found in the original PDF file I posted here, did you acutely and suddenly decide to speak your mind about the topic. You were caught in a lie. A big lie. I gave you several opportunities to own up to the problem. I gave you ample time to apologize. You failed to do even that, after admitting to your actions and opinions. This is an indication, at least to me (I leave the rest of you to make your own judgement), of how I should determine your personal integrity.

Zachary D'Alessio.

 

[Robert Walker]

Sounds like alot of personal issues between yall. seems more bashing than something either rescue has done wrong
deal with it squash it and move on

joined this site just to post that by the way friend of mine told me to come read it had to add my 2 centz lol

"Jim Jacobs" - Is there a reason you registration information comes back belonging to a "Chris Eichele - Cameron, NC"?

You have a PM waiting for you.