Bad Guy Dartanya Hausburg / GW Reptiles - Breeding Loan Gone Bad

[snakechaarmer]

Man. What a mess I've gotten myself into. This seems to be a trend in my life, but that's neither here nor there. People suck, I've got to learn to stop trusting people. I don't post much on here and I'm kinda new and quiet, but I really hope someone can help me. As of right now, I've just been told to involve the police, which can really go either way, and I'd like to think it could be resolved some other way.

I really didn't want to name names. I went into a breeding loan with someone who I thought was a friend here in Florida. He is a known breeder and has rodent supply company. I had no reason not to trust him, and had heard nothing negative to speak of. He even let me put 3 or 4 snakes on his table at Daytona to sell just to be nice, or so I thought.

The original deal was he was borrowing 3 of my expensive female breeder ball pythons to breed to a male of a special gene that not many people have. In exchange for borrowing them, he was to supply feeders for the rest of my collection weekly (not very many feeders, ranging anywhere from $50-100 a week).
After the clutches were laid, we were going to split the clutches but depending on the offspring he was entitled to certain ones that were more valuable, because all I really wanted were two specific morphs, but that's neither here nor there. We would keep what we wanted, sell the rest and split the profits.

It's been a little over 3 months into this deal, and he has been impossible to get ahold of, and has not been out weekly. I have hatchlings to feed and I've had to hunt him down everytime. He's only come out three times since we went into the deal.

It's been nearly 3 weeks since he last delivered feeders. So i sent him a nice, professional-sounding text basically telling him I needed to know what was going on because he wasn't really keeping his end of the deal, he hadn't been out as he said he would be, that I understood things come up life/work, etc..but that it had been 3 weeks, and my hatchlings could not wait any longer, and I really needed feeders to properly prepare my females for the breeding season ahead, and i needed to know if he'd be out yesterday or today or if I needed to make other arrangements.

Proceed this person absolutely FLIPPING OUT. All kinds of profanity, insults, all sorts of drama and uncalled for craziness because I called him out on him not keeping up his end of our arrangement.

Now this person is literally blackmailing me and holding my snakes ransom. He is claiming I owe him $650 for table space (putting 4 snakes on a corner of a table at Daytona) and feeders (how coming out to deliver feeders 3 times equates to that, I have no idea). He demands $650 by Wednesday or he will not return my snakes, and if I don't pay he is keeping them until they lay eggs and then he'll return them WITHOUT giving me my share of the eggs.

I remained calm, and I told him all of the drama was unnecessary, that I just wanted him to please deliver the feeders weekly and we could proceed as planned.
I also stated that if he was not going to supply feeders,and if he really felt I owed him $650 for the 3 times he delivered feeders, he could return two females, and keep one, and then split that clutch to get back the money I supposedly owe him. (While in reality, I don't owe him any money, he actually owes me 4-5 more weeks worth of feeders for the time period he has had my females, i was just trying to be nice and smooth things over at that point.)
He flatly refuses, ignored everything I said, and says if I don't pay him money I'm not getting my snakes back till he gets eggs from them.


I am at a loss, and so sad about this. I thought he was a nice guy, and he literally just went crazy? I can supply the whole conversation via text message if anyone actually wants to read it, but I don't know what to do about this. I don't know if there's anything I can do legally, but he has my babies. I love them, I had a hard enough time letting him borrow them. It's about $2000 worth of females, but it's not just about the money. They are my pets, I've raised them since hatchlings. I'm heartbroken, and worried that even by posting his name on this forum something bad will happen to them.

I could and would not hesitate to smear his name all across the country for this horrible thing he's doing, but then I am terrified he would hurt my animals, and Id never see them again. A few people have suggested the police, but what if I go over there with the police and he comes up with more lies and I don't get my animals back?

I have no idea what to do. I am so sad, I've been crying all day.

 

[lanceheads]

Well I see one thing wrong. GW Reptiles let you put animals on their table at Daytona. Since you were NOT the vendor at the show that is a

As a show promoter, I DO NOT allow that, and I will confiscate animals from a table that is NOT the vendor's animals who PAID for the table.

I am sure Wayne Hill will take note of that in the future, and not allow GW Reptiles or you to vend at the show.

People like you (sneaking animals in a show) or GW Reptiles ALLOWING
animals that or not theirs, is UN-FAIRto the other vendors who paid their hard earned money for a table(s) for their animals and you snakechaamer, are a cheat and shouldn't be believed

You get what you deserved Leigh, pay them the $650.00 for table space.
My decision is rendered.

Randal Berry

 

[brd7666]

I am sorry to hear about your problem. Breeding loans are really never a good idea. There is too many horror stories out there about them. If you do a breeding loan you should always have a written contract. Does Dartanya know about this thread? There are two sides to every story. As of now, we have heard yours. Written contracts, when done right have everything written out so there is no dispute. I hope you can get your animals back and all goes well. I also hope that you have learned a lesson about breeding loans. Maybe he will give you your animals back when he sees this thread. I don't know how you can even prove that those are yours as long as he has them. Good luck.
Brian Dierking

 

[snakechaarmer]

I think your comment is completely unnecessary and rude. Vendors share table space all of the time, at every single show. I see nothing wrong with asking someone who I thought was a friend make space for a few hatchlings, who at the time said It was no problem. The table was being shared with more people than just myself, for your information.

If you want to attack me and say that my animals are gone and I got what I deserved for sharing a corner of a table at a show, I think your priorities and morals are a bit out of whack, personally.

By the way, I know for a fact a table doesn't cost $650 at daytona, so please read the entire posting before you spout things like that.

Well I see one thing wrong. GW Reptiles let you put animals on their table at Daytona. Since you were NOT the vendor at the show that is a

As a show promoter, I DO NOT allow that, and I will confiscate animals from a table that is NOT the vendor's animals who PAID for the table.

I am sure Wayne Hill will take note of that in the future, and not allow GW Reptiles or you to vend at the show.

People like you (sneaking animals in a show) or GW Reptiles ALLOWING
animals that or not theirs, is UN-FAIRto the other vendors who paid their hard earned money for a table(s) for their animals and you snakechaamer, are a cheat and shouldn't be believed

You get what you deserved Leigh, pay them the $650.00 for table space.
My decision is rendered.

Randal Berry

 

[snakechaarmer]

To prove ownership, I keep excellent records of all of my animals, both on paper and on iHerp. My animals are well known on iHerp. I have original receipts andbills of sale on all the animals, including photos of me with them.

I don't know if he knows about the thread or not. He is welcome to try and explain himself. I've tried to deal with this calmly and without involving other people, but he is completely unapproachable.

I am sorry to hear about your problem. Breeding loans are really never a good idea. There is too many horror stories out there about them. If you do a breeding loan you should always have a written contract. Does Dartanya know about this thread? There are two sides to every story. As of now, we have heard yours. Written contracts, when done right have everything written out so there is no dispute. I hope you can get your animals back and all goes well. I also hope that you have learned a lesson about breeding loans. Maybe he will give you your animals back when he sees this thread. I don't know how you can even prove that those are yours as long as he has them. Good luck.
Brian Dierking

 

[snakechaarmer]

Additionally, I had no prior knowledge that people were not allowed to share table space at a show. I'm relatively new to the vendors/sales scene, and was told it was no big deal at all. So if this isn't allowed, This is news to me.

If Wayne Hill doesn't allow this, since I assume you are speaking for him, and I don't know if that's truly a rule at Daytona or not, I apologize if it is.

Well I see one thing wrong. GW Reptiles let you put animals on their table at Daytona. Since you were NOT the vendor at the show that is a

As a show promoter, I DO NOT allow that, and I will confiscate animals from a table that is NOT the vendor's animals who PAID for the table.

I am sure Wayne Hill will take note of that in the future, and not allow GW Reptiles or you to vend at the show.

People like you (sneaking animals in a show) or GW Reptiles ALLOWING
animals that or not theirs, is UN-FAIRto the other vendors who paid their hard earned money for a table(s) for their animals and you snakechaamer, are a cheat and shouldn't be believed

You get what you deserved Leigh, pay them the $650.00 for table space.
My decision is rendered.

Randal Berry

 

[Python Dreams]

lanceheads,
That has to be the most moronic post I have read in awhile! Good job!

 

[angie.h]

Yes,about the policies at shows,I could see someone not knowing what is/isn't allowed...when I did my first Columbus shows about 14 years ago,you could[and still can] just walk in+sell something that you carried in without having a table.Then when I went to the Pittsburgh show[when Herb Ellerbrook from the Pitt.zoo ran it]I carried in a group of baby dragons to sell with no table and he stopped me and had me get a table...otherwise I would have thought that it was just like Columbus...no need to make an issue.

 

[LauraB]

Just to clarify, not to judge : http://www.reptilebreedersexpo.com/rules.html

"Only official exhibitors are permitted to sell at the Expo."

"One Exhibitor badge is included with each table purchased. One additional badge may be purchased per table for $10. No table may have more than 2 badges assigned to it. All badges will have the name of the person, not the company."

That said, was there no contract or even email(s) to support such high-end snakes being loaned and the agreement thereof? How about any written documentation to support the OP having to pay for shared table space? Did you purchase a badge?

The only legal advice you should seek should be from an attorney ... without a paper trail, it's pretty much a she-said/he-said mess, as you now know.

 

[brd7666]

Well I see one thing wrong. GW Reptiles let you put animals on their table at Daytona. Since you were NOT the vendor at the show that is a

As a show promoter, I DO NOT allow that, and I will confiscate animals from a table that is NOT the vendor's animals who PAID for the table.

I am sure Wayne Hill will take note of that in the future, and not allow GW Reptiles or you to vend at the show.

People like you (sneaking animals in a show) or GW Reptiles ALLOWING
animals that or not theirs, is UN-FAIRto the other vendors who paid their hard earned money for a table(s) for their animals and you snakechaamer, are a cheat and shouldn't be believed

You get what you deserved Leigh, pay them the $650.00 for table space.
My decision is rendered.

Randal Berry

Sorry to get off topic here but I see other comments about animals on someones table. There is nothing wrong with a vendor having other peoples animals on their table. First of all it allows them to make some money by charging a commission on each sale. They are also not out any money if the animals don't sell because they didn't have to buy animals to have an inventory. I have paid commissions to people who have taken my animals to shows, and I have made money by bringing other peolple animals and placing them on my table when I was a vendor. Some vendors may not have enough stuff to fill a table, and may not have the financial resources to go out a buy a bunch of stuff. It doesn't bother me one bit when I do a show and another vendor does not own all the animals on his table. If it is done properly then there is nothing wrong with it. It is actually no different then consignment businesses. How do you think most homes are sold? A realitor lists it, they show it, they sell it, and they make a commission on it, they never owned it and never invested any money in it.

You should lighten up a little. Life is to short.

Brian Dierking

 

[JordanAng420]

There is nothing wrong with a vendor having other peoples animals on their table.

I'm pretty sure there is when one does not follow the show's guidelines in properly doing so...

 

[critical bill]

If you want to attack me and say that my animals are gone and I got what I deserved for sharing a corner of a table at a show, I think your priorities and morals are a bit out of whack, personally.

lanceheads,
That has to be the most moronic post I have read in awhile! Good job!

This isn't exactly front page news around here.

 

[brd7666]

Just to clarify, not to judge : http://www.reptilebreedersexpo.com/rules.html

"Only official exhibitors are permitted to sell at the Expo."

"One Exhibitor badge is included with each table purchased. One additional badge may be purchased per table for $10. No table may have more than 2 badges assigned to it. All badges will have the name of the person, not the company."

If an exhibitor brings the animals with him at first set up and sells them as his during the show,and makes a commision, there is nothing wrong with it. The actual owner of the animals should not be involved with the sale of them. If done properly there is nothing wrong with it. This is something that happens at every show and a lot more then you think.

Brian Dierking

 

[brd7666]

The quote didn't work right in my last post. I was quoting laurab in part of that.

 

[LauraB]

If an exhibitor brings the animals with him at first set up and sells them as his during the show,and makes a commision, there is nothing wrong with it. The actual owner of the animals should not be involved with the sale of them

I know it happens all the time; it still is NOT the intention of the show owners/promoters for it to happen. I only quoted the rules, which are readily available for anyone to read.

The OP said, "I see nothing wrong with asking someone who I thought was a friend make space for a few hatchlings" That tells me the vendor did not bring the animals.

I do think it's total and complete BS and thievery that Dartanya Hausburg should not fulfill his end of the breeder loan, demand $650 for table space and not return her snakes ASAP. I do think the OP should consult an attorney and hopefully at least get her snakes returned in perfect health without delay. I do believe when one does not follow the old CYA rule from the get-go and follow protocol (and some common sense), then one tends to be in something of a pickle when stuff happens. I do think Dartanya Hausburg deserves a Bad Guy thread if the OP is being truthful (and there is no reason not to believe she is at this point).

I ain't the bad guy here, just the messenger

 

[critical bill]

I don't know if there's anything I can do legally, but he has my babies. I have no idea what to do.

You can send a demand letter through your attorney. That should cost you around $400.00. Then if he doesn't respond or give you back your property you could start a lawsuit. That could cost you around $350.00 to $450.00 to file with the court. Then you'll need an attorney to represent you and that is going to run in the thousands. And then, without anything in writing, he could say I don't have anything that belongs to this person and your case is simply dismissed. He could actually counter sue you - and win.

Your best bet is to contact his local police dept. Explain the situation and ask them to accompany you to pick up your animals. Your only hope in this is that he will say something that would indicate to the officers of his having or having had your snakes in his possession. Even if he refuses to give them back at the officers request, you will now have a report that you can use in court and hopefully win your snakes back. If he wants his money it will be on him to produce a contract or bills outstanding that he claims you owe him.

And all of this means a hill of beans if he is reading along.

 

[snakechaarmer]

Thanks for this advice, but really, this is somewhere I don't even want to go. Dartanya is someone that I thought was a friend, someone that I could depend on. It's making me sad that he's behaving this way toward me, and has innocent animals in the mix of it, and for reasons that I absolutely can't figure out. I never would have thought him a person to behave this way.

If he doesn't want to bring feeders weekly, that's fine. But don't commit to something, not perform your end of the agreement, and try and extort the other person and lie about the situation.
If he would be willing to negotiate calmly and rationally without trying to extort me for money and fabricate things that were never a part of reality, and would just give me back my animals unharmed, or give them to a reputable person to return to me, and forget about all of this nonsense, I'd be willing to delete the thread and call it a day, and chalk up his behavior to being drunk or having a bad day, or whatever.

But as such since he has not responded to my attempts at private contact or this thread, I am still at a loss and quite sad. It shouldn't have even had to go this far to begin with.

You can send a demand letter through your attorney. That should cost you around $400.00. Then if he doesn't respond or give you back your property you could start a lawsuit. That could cost you around $350.00 to $450.00 to file with the court. Then you'll need an attorney to represent you and that is going to run in the thousands. And then, without anything in writing, he could say I don't have anything that belongs to this person and your case is simply dismissed. He could actually counter sue you - and win.

Your best bet is to contact his local police dept. Explain the situation and ask them to accompany you to pick up your animals. Your only hope in this is that he will say something that would indicate to the officers of his having or having had your snakes in his possession. Even if he refuses to give them back at the officers request, you will now have a report that you can use in court and hopefully win your snakes back. If he wants his money it will be on him to produce a contract or bills outstanding that he claims you owe him.

And all of this means a hill of beans if he is reading along.

 

[critical bill]

If he would be willing to negotiate calmly and rationally without trying to extort me for money and fabricate things that were never a part of reality, and would just give me back my animals unharmed, or give them to a reputable person to return to me, and forget about all of this nonsense, I'd be willing to delete the thread and call it a day, and chalk up his behavior to being drunk or having a bad day, or whatever.

You cannot delete a thread you create in the BOI forum. Its here to stay.

And your sticking up for a really great guy.

http://www.staugustine.com/stories/010405/new_2796883.shtml

Scroll down about half way. Dartanya Lamont Hausburg, 33, Fruit Cove Charge: domestic battery. (SJCSO)

Was that his ex-wife or his girlfriend he beat up on? Maybe he was just drunk or having a bad day? You go ahead and try to negotiate calmly and rationally with him and let us know how that works out for ya.

 

[critical bill]

Even his former partner seems like a real peach.

http://www.ocala.com/article/20080621/NEWS/806210311/0/APP

 

[TripleMoonsExotic]

Well I see one thing wrong. GW Reptiles let you put animals on their table at Daytona. Since you were NOT the vendor at the show that is a

As a show promoter, I DO NOT allow that, and I will confiscate animals from a table that is NOT the vendor's animals who PAID for the table.

I am sure Wayne Hill will take note of that in the future, and not allow GW Reptiles or you to vend at the show.

People like you (sneaking animals in a show) or GW Reptiles ALLOWING
animals that or not theirs, is UN-FAIRto the other vendors who paid their hard earned money for a table(s) for their animals and you snakechaamer, are a cheat and shouldn't be believed

You get what you deserved Leigh, pay them the $650.00 for table space.
My decision is rendered.

Randal Berry

What do you do with all of the vendors who sell animals that they didn't produce? Do you confiscate those animals? Do you not allow them to vend at your shows? I would estimate 75% of vendors at every show have at least one animal on their table they themselves did not produce...You or I just don't know it.

Continue....