Really? So the fact that Wyatt is STILL vending at Texas Reptile Expos that you also vend at, and that he is still dealing animals locally right there in DFW where you are, which has made quite a few people boycott buying any snakes from Texas, doesn't affect your rep or your business? Is that why you defended him so much and went on the attack against me, which you're still doing?
Comparing me to Ashley just doesn't hold up. She amassed 74+ snakes in 18-24 months. I had around 20 ball pythons, not including the 9 babies that hatched during the virus period, and had 6 kingsnakes and 2 rainbow boas. That was it. I accumulated these animals beginning in April 2004 through August 2007, almost 4 years. Ashley had animals die within her collection, had multiple verified symptoms of IBD, and tests concluded various viral and bacterial infections -- yet she continued to buy more snakes, sell snakes, hatch babies, lend snakes to friends, etc. Once my animals began getting sick and it was realized it was more than just a couple routine RI's, NOTHING new came in and NOTHING left. Period.
The only reason I listed my baby mojaves for sale was because it was before we came to the conclusion that this was an epidemic airborne virus, not just a common resistant strain, and before I made the decision to list them, Dr. Gordon, Dr. Jacobson, AND Dr. Brodnik all said they would be fine, that the virus should not have passed through the eggshells from mother to offspring and as long as they were in a separate room, they would be just fine. So somehow I was wrong for making a decision based on three veterinary professionals with years of herpetological research and education? The minute others questioned whether this was still safe or not, I decided better safe than sorry and said "You're right" and pulled them. Not a single animal left my posession.
Ashley has denied a contagious and deadly infection being in her collection and has avoided being held accountable for her actions and providing information. I was open and forthcoming on my own about everything, keeping everyone updated as everything happened and providing updates whenever something new was discussed, in order to keep the community educated and get this information out there. I did not hide anything or try to avoid the mob, despite being criticized and attacked by a minority few, including yourself.
I am nothing like Ashley whatsoever. I made a couple errors in judgement purely by mistake with NO malicious intent, and no one was hurt or affected by this because I corrected my errors. I was completely open and forthcoming about what I was dealing with. I did not continue to breed, sell, and buy snakes while this virus rampaged through my collection, and I did the responsible thing by euthanizing all of them. Ashley and I are complete opposites.
And since you brought it up without knowing what actually happened -- My animals were euthanized over 2 years ago. ALL OF THEM. Spoon and the G-stripe were the 2 I kept back and they were frozen in December of 2008, just a couple months after the others. The one-eyed female I have now is a rescue I adopted from VaRR around June of 2010. This info is posted on my BOI thread, on my Facebook, and in the ball python forum for all to see. I have NOTHING left from the virus experience, not even a book or a rubber glove. Nothing. Everything was burned, trashed, or given away to non-reptile people (the racks went to an auto garage to be used to store parts since they couldn't be burned or trashed). I also don't even live in the same house, moved to a brand spankin new apartment complex on the west side of Madison, 20 minutes from my old home.
So all of this makes me a "Bad Guy"? You're the only one with that opinion. I had a hell of a lot of support back when it happened, and have even more now, because everyone understands what I went through and that I learned from the little mistakes I made. I am starting over from scratch after losing $20,000 in animals and equipment and vet bills. I have 3 snakes to my name, all of which were acquired in or after June 2010. The latter 2 were quarantined in an entirely different apartment for 60 days before moving to my apartment. A normal female, a 2010 lesser, and an adult male co-dom reduced pattern. I am working on 2 projects, and that is it. Not looking to build what I used to have, because frankly I am disheartened and don't have the desire or the energy. I am working on 2 things that are fun and make me happy.
So if you want to think that all of this makes me some horrible person, then have at it. I sincerely hope no one at the Texas shows and expos ends up with this virus in their collection since that scumbag is still selling and brokering without any concern for what he is exposing others to. A new victim came forward just this past week that suffered 5 losses after buying 3 snakes from Wyatt at a show in the spring of 2008 well after me and the other victims came forward. Thus Wyatt continued to sell infected snakes. This new guy never knew there were others that also dealt with the same thing until he saw my thread in the BP forum. That makes 5 of us now. But I guess we're all "Bad Guys" huh?
