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FRGRASSO Bad guy, sent me a dead caiman, has given no response

T

thenavarro

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I purchased a Dwarf Caiman from FRGRASSO for $150.00 from this thread.original for sale thread

Mr. Grasso shipped the Caiman via USPS Priority Mail despite me asking him to ship it overnight AND offering to pay him $25.00 more additional to do so even though we had agreed to a price of $150.00 and that was to include PROPER shipping.

He sent the caiman in a plastic dish with only a couple of air wedges cut in the dish, surrounded that with newspaper and put no notice on the box that a live animal was enclosed or air holes in the box. Needless to say, when I received the caiman, you could smell the smell of a dead animal already.

He has not responded to any of my subsequent emails or postings. HE IS A BAD SELLER.

His contact information is as follows:

Username FRGRASSO

Business address:
FRGRASSO
13 apple ave.
lackawanna,NY 14218

email address: [email protected]

Take care and avoid this guy unless you want a dead animal and no money back or no new animal.

Mike Navarro
[email protected]
 
Here is a picture of the dismal shipping.

4520j5y.jpg

4e17sdk.jpg

2eaugkg.jpg


If he is an animal control officer that makes his conduct even more reprehensible. Come on FRGRASSO, step up to the plate and send me my $150.00 back!!
 
Wow, took me a second to realize what parts were what in that last pic. Poor thing! I'm sorry you are going through this. Hopefully he will come forward. Maybe if that is the same animal control officer we can put some pressure on him from work.
 
http://www.ci.lackawanna.ny.us/animalcontrol.htm

I am assuming this is the same guy. The SPCA return address label adds support that the seller in question is the animal control officer in Lackawanna. Interested to know if your caiman was originally someones confiscated or abondoned pet. I am sure his superiors would love to hear that he is shipping caimans USPS Priority Mail.

Bart Sharrah
 
bsharrah said:
http://www.ci.lackawanna.ny.us/animalcontrol.htm

I am assuming this is the same guy. The SPCA return address label adds support that the seller in question is the animal control officer in Lackawanna. Interested to know if your caiman was originally someones confiscated or abondoned pet. I am sure his superiors would love to hear that he is shipping caimans USPS Priority Mail.

Bart Sharrah
Click to expand...

I think thats probably a correct presumption.
You should find out if it is the one in the same person.

Anyone know the laws about owning,selling and shipping crocodilian in the state of NY?
Wonder if he broke a law or two?
 
christopher66 said:
Wonder if he broke a law or two?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there are more, but we can start with illegal shipping of an animal via the United States Postal Service and a clear violation of the Lacey Act.
 
I get the exact same SPCA address labels in the mail when they are trying to get a donation from me, lol....so that doesn't really mean much, though it is an AWFUL big coincidence that there is an animal control officer by the same name, however....and ANYONE shipping caiman by USPS needs to be dealt with.
 
Thanks Mike,I'm just not up to speed yet on the law concerning these things.
I figured that shipping was one of them he broke.

Would someone give me the abbreviated version of the Lacey Act.
 
I get the exact same SPCA address labels in the mail when they are trying to get a donation from me, lol....so that doesn't really mean much, though it is an AWFUL big coincidence that there is an animal control officer by the same name, however....and ANYONE shipping caiman by USPS needs to be dealt with.
Click to expand...

I wasn't suggesting that the labels prove anything. Only that it lends some support that it may be him considering it would not be a far reach to assume an animal control officer would support the SPCA. I agree that confirmation that this is the same person needs to be done before any emails be sent to public officials. I suggest calling him at his work, confirming it is him, and asking for resolution. If it is indeed him and he blows you off, the county website has the email addresses for most of the public offices. I would suggest a mass email providing them with this link. A small town like that can not afford the embarassment of having an animal control officer that not only violates federal law, but treats animals inhumanely.

Just a suggestion.

Bart Sharrah
 
Bart had some good suggestions about calling Mr. Grasso at his office first, but I was so mad this morning that I sent this email to the city, before I read Bart's post. I've given Fred more than sufficient time to respond so I sent this without calling him. I'll let y'all know what happens or if they confirm that this is the same Mr. Grasso. Thanks for y'alls help. Mike


Mr. Mayor and members of the City Council:

Is Fred Grasso, Animal Control Officer for the city of Lackawanna , NY, the same Fred Grasso that is at 13 Apple Ave. , Lackawanna , NY 14218 ??? If so, then I would like to inform you of some of the reprehensible actions of Mr. Grasso. You can see the details at this address on the internet

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86923&page=1&pp=5

IF this is the same man then I find it disconcerting that the City of Lackawanna puts trust and tax dollars into a man that conducts himself in such a manner. If this is the same Mr. Grasso, then he should be held accountable for his actions and they should be investigated to determine if he broke any laws or whether he is just neglectful in fulfilling his obligations to his customers.

Questions I would like to know are:

1) Is Mr. Grasso selling animals that he confiscates or seizes from others or are otherwise the property of the City of Lackawanna, NY?
2) Is Mr. Grasso violating laws or ordinances relating to the shipping or possession of caiman in NY?
3) Is there any assistance you can offer in helping me obtain my $150.00 from Mr. Grasso?

Any assistance that you could provide me would be appreciated. If this is not the same Fred Grasso that is your animal control officer, then perhaps your Fred Grasso needs to know since he is in charge of animal control.

Sincerely,

Mike Navarro
701 Dunn St .
Waxahachie , TX 75165
[email protected]
 
You CAN ship caimens USPS as long as they do not exceed 20 inches in length.


9.3.3 Small Cold-Blooded Animals
Small, harmless, cold-blooded animals (except snakes and turtles) that do not require food or water or attention during handling in the mail and that do not create sanitary problems or obnoxious odors are mailable (e.g., baby alligators and caimans not more than 20 inches long, bloodworms, earthworms, mealworms, salamanders, leeches, lizards, snails, and tadpoles).
Click to expand...
 
I found a listing on this site - http://www.nfbc.com/dogs.htm - of a list of Animal Control officers. Animal Control Officer Fred Grasso is listed here, but his address does not match the return address label, so this may not be the same person that sold the caiman, unless he has moved.
 
Whoops - heh, that's the address for Lackawanna City Hall, so it may be the same person. There are several F. Grasso phone listings in this area. I hope it's NOT an animal control officer, and also that the seller makes good on the dead caiman. :(
 
ya ..but

Ya ..but what would the odds be on two people..same name ..same profession..same state..? It would be lottery type odds.
There is a chance ....but i wouldn't bank on it.

just my $ 0.02
 
How long was the transit time on the caiman? Maybe it's just me, but it looks like that guy has been dead for a while, and didn't perish in overnight transit. JMO, though. It's terrible that an ASPCA associate would package an animal so poorly. Out of curiosity, would it be unjust to call the ASPCA in his county to inform them of this? I don't know NY state laws, but is it even legal for him to sell the caiman to begin with?
 
HerpkeeperVA,

I put the pictures up to show the dismal shipping and the lack of adequate airholes, ventilation, no mention of live reptile, etc. The caiman was in transit for two days. The picture of the animal you see in my post was from this Saturday, its the first time I've had an opportunity to take pictures. It has deterioted a lot more than when I received it, but I've left everything in the exact same state as when it arrived. I never even removed the caiman from the plastic dish. I'm not accusing Mr. Grasso of shipping me an animal that was dead before he sent it, but it died in transit.

Mike
 
thenavarro said:
HerpkeeperVA,

I put the pictures up to show the dismal shipping and the lack of adequate airholes, ventilation, no mention of live reptile, etc. The caiman was in transit for two days. The picture of the animal you see in my post was from this Saturday, its the first time I've had an opportunity to take pictures. It has deterioted a lot more than when I received it, but I've left everything in the exact same state as when it arrived. I never even removed the caiman from the plastic dish. I'm not accusing Mr. Grasso of shipping me an animal that was dead before he sent it, but it died in transit.

Mike
Click to expand...

Ok, that explains a lot as far as the pictures are concerned. That's why I wanted to know how long the transit was and such, he looked more than just a few hours dead. Why wasn't this animal shipped overnight? Don't caimen need to eat every day? I'm not saying he starved to death that fast, but it would seem that an animal that needs daily attention shouldn't have been in transit that long. I wouldn't even ship a snake two-day, simply because you can't be guaranteed what kind of conditions the box will be left in. :shrug01:
 
Did anyone else notice that his registered user info is completely different than the info provided in this thread?

frgrasso
Registered User


Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: erie, PA
Age: 36
Posts: 20
Name : robert smith

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Warning Level: 0
 
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