Info Doc Walker, reptidoc, Dr. Daryl G. Walker = buyer beware

[radera5]

Just in general, I don't agree with giving those that mistreat animals a pass and just hushing the matter up because any resulting press might hurt the snake world rep. That was the kind of thinking used at Penn State.

Apples and Oranges. Penn State hasn't had tons of negative publicity recently... they were just not wanting to look bad period.

I don't agree with a "free pass" for anyone doing this to animals whatsoever, BUT, I can say I understand what Josh meant.

 

[cornsnakekate]

If (If) this is a case of being simply overwhelmed by too many snakes/not enough time the answer for Mr Walker is simple. STOP breeding more than you take care off. Most of us have jobs, families, etc. and let me tell you, 4 clutches of corns is time consuming when you have to deal with Life in general, let alone several...

My advice (FWIW and again, if underfeeding IS the issue) would be for Doc next year to breed only some pairs of snakes that people have had issues with and offer them free of charge for those folks. Do the right thing. Several of us are local to Baltimore; I'm sure someone would be willing to assist, give advice, whatever to help rectify an ugly situation...

The thing that worries me the most about this situation, and my conversations with Darryl since my hatchling died, is that he seems to be clinging to Rich's explanation for dear life and not even attempting to further investigate. I haven't heard anything from him to make me think he's going to do anything about this situation except maybe start feeding his hatchlings more often.

As far as I know he's still selling snakes and, unless he says otherwise, I doubt he'll stop breeding. This is deeply troubling to me. Personally, the only way I'd ever trust him again would be if he came completely clean, closed his collection, stopped breeding, and embarked in a very well documented clean up act of his entire operation, including sending out animals for testing (I'm sure he's not short in dead hatchlings to necropsy).

 

[reptilebaby]

He told me that he did have some tested...

 

[WebSlave]

It is my understanding that some of Doc's animals were tested by independent agencies and none had any pathogens of note. Am I incorrect in this understanding?

 

[Pasodama]

It is my understanding that some of Doc's animals were tested by independent agencies and none had any pathogens of note. Am I incorrect in this understanding?

This is the exact quote of what I wrote, on another thread, re. test results for Bob's snakes:

Basically ... nothing definitive.
With one snake, there was intestinal inflammation, and bacteria, but, while a guess could be made, the cause of inflammation (and bacteria type) is, actually, unknown.
With the other, nothing could be said really.
There was too much deterioration, due to prolonged refrigeration/freezing, to come up with something conclusive.
That is my take, on it, anyway.

 

[SDiBiasi]

Have any snakes in Doc's care been tested but an outside source?

 

[Nanci]

It is my understanding that some of Doc's animals were tested by independent agencies and none had any pathogens of note. Am I incorrect in this understanding?

Bob Brown had one live hatchling PCR tested for crypto and salmonella.

He had what, two? other hatchlings sent for necropsy. They were not fresh specimens. Those results are referred to above.

I do not know if Kate's dead hatchling has had tissue submitted for testing for pathogens.

If Doc Walker had PCR tests done on any animals in his possession, let's see the photocopied results. Otherwise, I call bull. And really, he'd have to test the entire collection. That's $80 a pop _if_ you can find a vet that will give you a good deal. And any other test requiring three or more negatives, IMO, is never going to be accurate or conclusive.

 

[Amelanistic Orca]

0.2 Cents for Doc... Quit breeding 500 animals a year til you get a rodent rack and get that established.... Done!

 

[crotalis40741]

Bob Brown had one live hatchling PCR tested for crypto and salmonella.

He had what, two? other hatchlings sent for necropsy. They were not fresh specimens. Those results are referred to above.

I do not know if Kate's dead hatchling has had tissue submitted for testing for pathogens.

If Doc Walker had PCR tests done on any animals in his possession, let's see the photocopied results. Otherwise, I call bull. And really, he'd have to test the entire collection. That's $80 a pop _if_ you can find a vet that will give you a good deal. And any other test requiring three or more negatives, IMO, is never going to be accurate or conclusive.

Yes I had two dead snakes necropsied and one live one had a PCR test done for crypto and salmonella. The two dead ones were frozen then thawed and sent for testing and it caused too much damage for anything to be conclusive. The live one tested positive for heavy counts of salmonella as did the two dead ones.
I really don't think we will ever have a conclusive answer on all things here and the deaths. Things could have already have been better for his hatchlings and for those who have purchased from him if he had been adult enough to admit there was a problem on his end to begin with. We also will not never know how many have actually died and really how many cases of NEGLECT and abuse there really is. People can say well it was just these few but it does not matter how many it is, it is still NEGLECT and ABUSE to the animals in his care. And it would be just as wrong if we as a community let it slip into oblivion with no reprocusions being inacted. If nothing is really done it will end up like last time, Doc gave it a month or so to cool down and started posting sales ads in bulk.
Ok I guess this is the loaded question, Joe was banned from sales on sites because of ripping people off and had to make things somewhat better before he was allowed back on some sites. So isn't this just as wrong? Why should he still have sales privileges on sites when nothing has been proven that no other potential buyer will not be put thru this? Shouldn't Doc as everyone else have to prove his collection safe? What makes him better than everyone else in this case? I mean really shouldn't someone with a PHD and been in the reptile industry this long, shouldn't they be able to tell that hatchlings are not healthy and not fit for sales? I really hope that we as a collective will not cave in and let these things slide again.

 

[calvin455]

Bob Brown had one live hatchling PCR tested for crypto and salmonella.

He had what, two? other hatchlings sent for necropsy. They were not fresh specimens. Those results are referred to above.

I do not know if Kate's dead hatchling has had tissue submitted for testing for pathogens.

If Doc Walker had PCR tests done on any animals in his possession, let's see the photocopied results. Otherwise, I call bull. And really, he'd have to test the entire collection. That's $80 a pop _if_ you can find a vet that will give you a good deal. And any other test requiring three or more negatives, IMO, is never going to be accurate or conclusive.

Need to test whole of his collection like Naci said, now the truth came out for those who gave Josh hard time own him something right???? please think twice before said something if he didn't post his problem to the public to proved Doc collection had problem???? will be more snakes die without know what happend and also thanks Bob for test result Doc need to fix problem before start selling

 

[Cat_Eyed_Lady]

yep yep!! What Bob said. I dont like being that way but yes! Something has to be done so that Doc and others know that this community will do something about things like this. Not just let it go and push it under the rug... til the next time it happens all over again. I dont like this kind of cycle. Time to nip it off so that it doesnt happen again.

 

[Cent_Phillips]

Yes I had two dead snakes necropsied and one live one had a PCR test done for crypto and salmonella. The two dead ones were frozen then thawed and sent for testing and it caused too much damage for anything to be conclusive. The live one tested positive for heavy counts of salmonella as did the two dead ones.
I really don't think we will ever have a conclusive answer on all things here and the deaths. Things could have already have been better for his hatchlings and for those who have purchased from him if he had been adult enough to admit there was a problem on his end to begin with. We also will not never know how many have actually died and really how many cases of NEGLECT and abuse there really is. People can say well it was just these few but it does not matter how many it is, it is still NEGLECT and ABUSE to the animals in his care. And it would be just as wrong if we as a community let it slip into oblivion with no reprocusions being inacted. If nothing is really done it will end up like last time, Doc gave it a month or so to cool down and started posting sales ads in bulk.
Ok I guess this is the loaded question, Joe was banned from sales on sites because of ripping people off and had to make things somewhat better before he was allowed back on some sites. So isn't this just as wrong? Why should he still have sales privileges on sites when nothing has been proven that no other potential buyer will not be put thru this? Shouldn't Doc as everyone else have to prove his collection safe? What makes him better than everyone else in this case? I mean really shouldn't someone with a PHD and been in the reptile industry this long, shouldn't they be able to tell that hatchlings are not healthy and not fit for sales? I really hope that we as a collective will not cave in and let these things slide again.

I agree with bob on this. There are local animal laws and lemon laws set in place to prevent this from happening and yet it does because as a whole, people just let things slip. Band together and rid such as Doc walker from selling sick reptiles. Honestly we all as a group of reptile breeders, lovers, and pet owners should not let Doc Walker continue with selling sick or disease ridden animals! He needs the pressure on him getting his animals cleared up or clean out. He is nothing but a back yard breeder if he doesn't take care of his animals and do what is necessary for healthy stock. He is nothing but a crook! He may have good genes but that's all he has going for him. It's a darn shame that people have to suffer losses with what he has done.

 

[SDiBiasi]

Yes I had two dead snakes necropsied and one live one had a PCR test done for crypto and salmonella. The two dead ones were frozen then thawed and sent for testing and it caused too much damage for anything to be conclusive. The live one tested positive for heavy counts of salmonella as did the two dead ones.
I really don't think we will ever have a conclusive answer on all things here and the deaths. Things could have already have been better for his hatchlings and for those who have purchased from him if he had been adult enough to admit there was a problem on his end to begin with. We also will not never know how many have actually died and really how many cases of NEGLECT and abuse there really is. People can say well it was just these few but it does not matter how many it is, it is still NEGLECT and ABUSE to the animals in his care. And it would be just as wrong if we as a community let it slip into oblivion with no reprocusions being inacted. If nothing is really done it will end up like last time, Doc gave it a month or so to cool down and started posting sales ads in bulk.
Ok I guess this is the loaded question, Joe was banned from sales on sites because of ripping people off and had to make things somewhat better before he was allowed back on some sites. So isn't this just as wrong? Why should he still have sales privileges on sites when nothing has been proven that no other potential buyer will not be put thru this? Shouldn't Doc as everyone else have to prove his collection safe? What makes him better than everyone else in this case? I mean really shouldn't someone with a PHD and been in the reptile industry this long, shouldn't they be able to tell that hatchlings are not healthy and not fit for sales? I really hope that we as a collective will not cave in and let these things slide again.

I totally agree with you Bob! It is neglect and abuse and he should be banned from selling his snakes until the problem is solves and he can prove it! Starving hatchlings because you have too many snakes is horrible! The other hatchlings in his care should all be tested by an outside source and the results be posted! If he is starving them, then they need to be taken away along with his collection! JMHO

 

[Cent_Phillips]

I totally agree with you Bob! It is neglect and abuse and he should be banned from selling his snakes until the problem is solves and he can prove it! Starving hatchlings because you have too many snakes is horrible! The other hatchlings in his care should all be tested by an outside source and the results be posted! If he is starving them, then they need to be taken away along with his collection! JMHO

she is right

 

[Pasodama]

he should be banned from selling his snakes until the problem is solves and he can prove it!

He will not be banned, from Fauna, unless he breaks rules of this site.
It must be understood that Rich cannot take on banning people due to unethical business practices, or alleged unethical business practices, since it could open up avenues of liability, for him, &/or for Fauna users to come to incorrect perceptions (such as: "all that are not banned must be okay to do business with").

 

[cornsnakekate]

Bob Brown had one live hatchling PCR tested for crypto and salmonella.

He had what, two? other hatchlings sent for necropsy. They were not fresh specimens. Those results are referred to above.

I do not know if Kate's dead hatchling has had tissue submitted for testing for pathogens.

If Doc Walker had PCR tests done on any animals in his possession, let's see the photocopied results. Otherwise, I call bull. And really, he'd have to test the entire collection. That's $80 a pop _if_ you can find a vet that will give you a good deal. And any other test requiring three or more negatives, IMO, is never going to be accurate or conclusive.

I did not send out for pathogen testing. When we talked about the necro results over the phone my vet said that in his opinion, sending samples out for pathology on my snake alone most likely wouldn't return anything conclusive. I trust his judgement.

This is a vet who has done necropsies like this many times for herps like my dead hatchling: undersized, malnourished herps who died not long after they were bought. He said he's run into my situation many times: people bring in their sick / dead herps and say the breeder / pet store swore up and down that they were feeding well and thriving, only to have them die. He called them "fake" snakes.

He said that in my case, the only way sending out a pathogen sample would be truly helpful is if several people with a bunch of snakes from the same collection (or the owner of the collection) sent samples in for pathogen testing. Then we could compare results and see if anything matched.

In my opinion, this is something Darryl should be doing.

 

[SDiBiasi]

Ok I guess this is the loaded question, Joe was banned from sales on sites because of ripping people off and had to make things somewhat better before he was allowed back on some sites. So isn't this just as wrong? Why should he still have sales privileges on sites when nothing has been proven that no other potential buyer will not be put thru this? Shouldn't Doc as everyone else have to prove his collection safe? What makes him better than everyone else in this case? I mean really shouldn't someone with a PHD and been in the reptile industry this long, shouldn't they be able to tell that hatchlings are not healthy and not fit for sales? I really hope that we as a collective will not cave in and let these things slide again.

This is what I was refering to when I said band!

 

[SDiBiasi]

I also meant banned from selling snakes Period even in his home state and city, not just on sites such as fauna or others!

 

[Pasodama]

Wow ... yell much?
I simply gave an explanation as to this site. Nothing more, nothing less.
My apologies if it did not meet with what you, yourself, meant (and for quoting part of your post).

 

[Cat_Eyed_Lady]

Well... another passed. Thats 5 out of 6 that died. Only one little hypo stripe female left. She did eat for me again and seems abit more active but... well, I hope to be able to save atleast one. Makes me sick to have to watch them die.