High End Herps (Inquiry)

[Dave Lawson]

I sit here and read these post that say how great HEH is (both here and on K.S.) and wonder homy of them IF any of them are real . I mean how mant times over the years have we seen one person post under many names? There is no question in my mind that Damon and David are one in the same and that he both doctors and steals photos. The site detectives here on Fauna have shown( to me anyway) enough proof that David lives in a trailer with no out buildings, I myself have had a collection of over 100 burms and Retics and I had to have a 30' x 80' building and 2 -30' x 24' building and at that it was crowded. So how does HEH have thousands of snakes is a small trailer? does he have a magical trailer of holding (Dundeons and dragon term). Heh came out of nowhere claiming to have the rarest collection in the world but yet noone had ever heard of him...ever.

 

[Wraith]

I sit here and read these post that say how great HEH is (both here and on K.S.) and wonder homy of them IF any of them are real . I mean how mant times over the years have we seen one person post under many names? There is no question in my mind that Damon and David are one in the same and that he both doctors and steals photos. The site detectives here on Fauna have shown( to me anyway) enough proof that David lives in a trailer with no out buildings, I myself have had a collection of over 100 burms and Retics and I had to have a 30' x 80' building and 2 -30' x 24' building and at that it was crowded. So how does HEH have thousands of snakes is a small trailer? does he have a magical trailer of holding (Dundeons and dragon term). Heh came out of nowhere claiming to have the rarest collection in the world but yet noone had ever heard of him...ever.

Hmm.. maybe it's time for another recap of some of damon's exploits LOL. Not as succinct as Ritchies' though.


Let's see..

Some highlights from the Brian Smith/Damon Heynen thread

I believe Damon was using a false name from the very beginning and eventually got called out for it when he slipped up. Some samples of names he's been known to use.. courtesy of an old post by Wes...

Yes we have Brian Smith / Damon Heynen / Damon Anderson / Josh Andrew Stewart / Cages-N-Constrictors / damonsmorphs / radical rats / radical reptiles4u / radical rats 4u / tuesday smith.
Now ask yourself. Why would a "good guy" need so many names to hide from other herpers?

I believe he was in some manner or another implicated in the breaking and entering and theft of some animals from Prehistoric Pets or something involving Underhill and Whitefeather...that's all a bit vague. I don't think anything was really settled with that issue.

I believe he got outted for doctoring his photos / misrepresenting his animals.

I believe that he did a pretty good job of manipulating his small handful of defenders to post on his behalf to avoid doing it himself. He finally put in an appearance beginning at post #300 (page 60) of the thread....and of course did it under another assumed name before finally being outted and told to use his real name and then couldn't even spell it right. He trolled the thread for several pages before any real serious discussion could be gotten from him.

I believe he was also somehow mixed up in a mess revolving around Bob Clark's stolen animals and a lawsuit that Clark had against Miller and another person Savannah (whom Damon was trying to defend claiming she was an innocent little girl or some such nonsense).

I believe he made some very serious threats against others including threatening physical harm and even lawsuits.. which brings up a funny comment from someone..

The funny thing is, How and the hell is this moron going to file against YOU for slandering Brian Smith???????

Wouldn't Brian Smith have to file?

I believe there was also mention of IBD or something nasty being found in Damon's collection at one point and was part of the excuse given to account for a 10 year "time off" from the business seeing as he claimed he was a "fairly large breeder" prior to 1991.. of which no one ever heard of. He made some paranoid claims that the death of most of his collection was really due to other big breeders who were jealous of him and afraid of the potential competition he posed to them and that they conspired to deliberately infect his collection to put his business under or some nonsense. In reality I believe it came about that he spent 10 years in jail for apparently a gun related homicide? Whether his collection was truely infected with something bad or not, I dunno. However, he did say outright that he sold his sick snakes to other people and bailed before his little time off. and yet later claims he never sold anyone an animal that was anything less than 100% healthy (well....except that one time ... and well he can't even get that story straight.. did he sell them before he went to jail or his girlfriend while he was in jail).


oh look... a nice oldie but goodie comment from Ritchie way back in 2003 ...

lets put it this way.
Damon Heynen / Brian Smith Big Time Breeder. (NO ONE has ever really heard off. And maybe 3-5 people has his animals)

hmm.. sound familiar... gee how many people have bought from HEH again??

and another oldie but goodie comment..possibly even fortelling the future (from Mark & Amiee / AussieDragons)

Wes, If you do manage to arrange a get-together, please don't forget your camera!

As many names as Damon has, a face would be useful for those of us who wish to steer clear of him and his many personalities in the years to come.

more words of wisdom from Ritchie...

Brian smith = Damon heynen
DOB = Feb 9, 1966 <---I am typing from memory. I will go home and check on this. I will correct if necessary.
Location = San Bernadino
CRIME = already posted including case numbers. i will not post again.
What does his past criems have to do with reptiles? he goes around threatening people (including people involved with REPTILES) His background suggest that these people are telling the truth.

1. Lies about the age of his stock
2. Takes pictures of his stock next to miniature dollar bills
3. Tells people how a big breeder he is.
4. threatens people who try to expose him
5. Will not do business under his REAL name
6. Says he has a legal business. But he does not even know what name to use (makes sense to you?)

and the last fun quote of the day by Damon himself...

Don't be silly Wendy. None of this matters now and none of it will matter in the future. None of this has made a dent in me, my business or my life. None of it. And for the record, business is way up as a direct result of this thread. It's mindboggling and I kind of wish it were the opposite. (I don't like being too busy)

 

[fuscusking13]

I believe that he did a pretty good job of manipulating his small handful of defenders to post on his behalf to avoid doing it himself.

I can not speak for others as I am only one person and do not know any other people who have dealt with HEH on a personal level, but I can speak for myself in the fact that Dave never once asked me to defend him. In all honesty quite the opposite. He told me to not waste my time here and he is sorry for things that were said to me ect. I feel there is no need for an apology, as I am an adult and can take even more than I dish out due to my general respect for people, difference in opinion or otherwise. I agree with some here and disagree with others, but all in all as I said my experiance was pleasent with no complaints. I personally dont like digs on the south either, as I am from Louisiana, but people, you have to have a sense of humor!!!!! I dont know how one could get thru life without it, I know I couldnt. These were made in a joking way, not derogatory at all. Anyway as to people who think all of Daves defenders are his alter egos and such, once again I cant speak for others, but one of the mods showed my ip address from CT and Jen (Ravensmama) has told you as well that I am me in what little bit of glory I have to offer. So believe what you will, get all the facts ect and make your own informed decisions, all the positive or negative comments, stories, digs, whatever, in the world should not make up your mind for you, just help and guide you along your way to an informed decision, which is what the BOI is all about...information and guidance. It is a great tool that for the most part is respectable in its purpose, just not always in its tactics, but that is my opinion, for what it is worth. Good luck to all, and as always I welcome anyone to contact me if need be, email prefered.

Dan M.
[email protected]
[email protected]

 

[Griz]

I can not speak for others as I am only one person and do not know any other people who have dealt with HEH on a personal level, but I can speak for myself in the fact that Dave never once asked me to defend him.

Funny, I never looked at your posts as defending Damon. If anything, your posts did nothing but help condemn him and for that, the BOI is thankful.

Maybe that's why he told you not to post anymore? Just a thought.

Griz

 

[fuscusking13]

Bob..

Funny, I never looked at your posts as defending Damon. If anything, your posts did nothing but help condemn him and for that, the BOI is thankful.

Maybe that's why he told you not to post anymore? Just a thought.

Griz

I am not sure how or what you mean by this, as far as condemning David goes, but things can be perceived by different people in different ways, so take it/me however you like, and whatever works best for you. Have a great day, Dan M.

 

[BenR]

I am not sure how or what you mean by this, as far as condemning David goes, but things can be perceived by different people in different ways, so take it/me however you like, and whatever works best for you. Have a great day, Dan M.

Hey Dan,

Can you say if you thought Jim Mason's detailed description of David B sounded accurate to you? I think someone asked before, but I don't remember seeing a reply. Thanks.

 

[fuscusking13]

To answer your question...

Hey Dan,

Can you say if you thought Jim Mason's detailed description of David B sounded accurate to you? I think someone asked before, but I don't remember seeing a reply. Thanks.

Yeah, ms. Terese had asked me and I wasnt sure of the post number so I asked her through PM and answered her there, but I said basically yes. The only thing that I am not sure about were the hands lol, I told her I dont really check out peoples hands so I didnt notice if they were big or rough or anything. Other than that Jim's description seems consistant with my mental picture of David. Hope this answers your question, Dan M.

 

[HerpVenue]

Yeah, ms. Terese had asked me and I wasnt sure of the post number so I asked her through PM and answered her there, but I said basically yes. The only thing that I am not sure about were the hands lol, I told her I dont really check out peoples hands so I didnt notice if they were big or rough or anything. Other than that Jim's description seems consistant with my mental picture of David. Hope this answers your question, Dan M.

so just like damon,
david is tall, dark, ugly and drives a white ford dually that happens to be a stick shift and grinds in reverse.

 

[Laura Fopiano]

I don't recall in the multitude of post's here, but, Dan, you saw the facility correct??

I do remember that you claimed to have spent 3 hours with David/Damon or whoever HEH is. Did you meet Tawny as well?
How many enclosures does HEH have?? I'm not talking about buildings, just snake cages. Are they all home made as all of the pix here suggest?? Or a combination of both?

Sorry if this has already been covered, but I don't recall reading it if it has.

 

[fuscusking13]

Well...

so just like damon,
david is tall, dark, ugly and drives a white ford dually that happens to be a stick shift and grinds in reverse.

I know nothing about the transmission on his truck or if it grinds gears (we took my car when we went for lunch since it was blocking the driveway) and didnt really notice if it was a dually or not, but a ford definately cause I remember thinking how much I hate Ford. As far as ugly goes I can not pass such judgements, I am ugly, and people in glass houses do not throw stones, so we will chop that up as a matter of opinion. His skin is darker than mine, but way lighter than that shown in that early picture of Damon. Off to the land of Marine insurance, try not to be jealous!!!!!! Dan M.

 

[fuscusking13]

I need to get back to work, but...

I don't recall in the multitude of post's here, but, Dan, you saw the facility correct??

I do remember that you claimed to have spent 3 hours with David/Damon or whoever HEH is. Did you meet Tawny as well?
How many enclosures does HEH have?? I'm not talking about buildings, just snake cages. Are they all home made as all of the pix here suggest?? Or a combination of both?

Sorry if this has already been covered, but I don't recall reading it if it has.

I always have time for those whom I like in here. I did see it, and no I met no one else but David. There was someone working in the rodent breeding area, but I could care less about seeing feeder animals to be quite honest, I never like to get attached(believe me I have a damn pet rat in my living room now lol, but he is cool). There were many cages, homemade mostly but lots of sweater box type things for the smaller animals and such. I would say for large constrictors there were at least 50 cages and then tons of smaller cages with other stuff. My passion is AfRocks so I was looking mostly at those, and the patternless are sooo awesome I might add, but there was definately a lot of stuff and a lot of morphs and such. The albino granite that fell under a lot of question as to being kept in to small of a cage looked fine(in shed when I got there) and she is BIG, but she had plenty of room for a burm, as they are not active, especially at that size when well fed. Also honestly I was concerned about the screen/wire(whatever the proper term) fronts with the retics, knowing how much they like to push, but not one of them had a mark on their face, I was shocked. He said he hasnt had one problem with them, and it showed. They are obliviously cared for and content, because anyone who has kept retics knows they will push for food, or even boredom or lack of space, and Afrocks are pushers too if upset. All in all I was impressed and felt comfortable leaving my animals behind there, otherwise they would have been staying in NJ with a friend who offered to take them for a bit if things did not work out, until I got myself together. Irregardless to the outcome of this whole thread I feel 100 percent confident in the well being of my animals there and other than with myself would rather have them nowhere else. I have pics since they have been down there, and they look excellent, healthy and happy, what more can I ask for? I probably come off a bit selfish, and in this case I am, I worry much more about my animals well being than who David is/was/will be. To me it's not important, because the person I met cares for his animals as much as I do, and sadly this day in age people see numbers not individuals, so this is rare. Its all about increasing profits and so forth, while David is out to make money, and who isnt, I can tell you he does care very much about those animals, and that is something you can not lie about. Its not about what a person says, its the way their face lights up when they talk about them and interact with them, that childish almost giddy nature of absolute bliss. Will David come thru on his baby deal with me, only time will tell, but until then I feel that he will, and has given me no reason whatsoever to disbelieve him, regardless of anything that has been said here. Really back to work this time, Dan M.

 

[Cat_72]

Were all of the cages in one building, or were there several buildings?

 

[fuscusking13]

Where I was...

Were all of the cages in one building, or were there several buildings?

There were two. One for snakes and one for "food", although as I stated I only saw inside of the snake one, and then the pigs he breeds are outside with their little shelters, and some rabbits for breeding in hutch setups. Thats all I had time for, and all that I saw. Dan M.

 

[Scott Ashton]

........All in all I was impressed and felt comfortable leaving my animals behind there, otherwise they would have been staying in NJ with a friend who offered to take them for a bit if things did not work out, until I got myself together. Irregardless to the outcome of this whole thread I feel 100 percent confident in the well being of my animals there and other than with myself would rather have them nowhere else. I have pics since they have been down there, and they look excellent, healthy and happy, what more can I ask for? I probably come off a bit selfish, and in this case I am, I worry much more about my animals well being than who David is/was/will be. To me it's not important, because the person I met cares for his animals as much as I do, and sadly this day in age people see numbers not individuals, so this is rare. Its all about increasing profits and so forth, while David is out to make money, and who isnt, I can tell you he does care very much about those animals, and that is something you can not lie about. Its not about what a person says, its the way their face lights up when they talk about them and interact with them, that childish almost giddy nature of absolute bliss. Will David come thru on his baby deal with me, only time will tell, but until then I feel that he will, and has given me no reason whatsoever to disbelieve him, regardless of anything that has been said here. Really back to work this time, Dan M.

Hey Dan - thanks for continuing to elaborate on your experiences. It is indeed helpful.

As noted above you and mentioned previously somewhere in this thread - you parted with your animals due to some tough times. I absolutely understand that and applaud your effort to that end.

There is something I'm curious about.

You already said that you left for LA on 11/23/06. And got back the following week - I believe it was Tuesday 11/28/06. If you were trying to get "yourself together", then how is it you were looking to purchase a retic on 11/30/2006?

 

[fuscusking13]

Scott,

For that price on an albino retic, and had it been from a good source, who wouldnt scrape the money together??? I get rats from my friend for 50 cents to a dollar based on size, and rabbits for 1 or 2 dollars a piece, as well as adult guinea pigs for $1 (all of this stuff live too) so I can afford to feed one retic if I decided to keep it, and I also have a few different sized cages and theremostats sitting around. I know a bit on the medical end so I rarely have to do vet visits, so all in all I could have swung it, but it was better as I didnt get it, since you get one and it just gets contagious as we all know. My friend would have bought it off me anyway, which was the plan if I didnt get attached lol, but he didnt have the money up front, and this was prior to my little $350 radiator adventure, so money wasnt quite so tight at the time. It would have admittedly been an impulse buy because of the void I was feeling from the empty cages I returned to, so in the long run I am glad I did not make a purchase. It is an undescribable feeling to come back the first time and see the cages all intact, but no snakes. I just started getting commision on top of my regular pay now, so in a few weeks or months I want to get an albino retic baby and raise it as a pet, nothing more, nothing less, and maybe down the line someday a patternless Rock too, and long term I really want to come back into this hobby in a big way, I just cant right now. So thats why if you understand my jumble of thoughts, I tend to type it as I think it, so it doesnt always make sense on paper/computer. Dan M.

 

[HerpVenue]

As far as ugly goes I can not pass such judgements, I am ugly, and people in glass houses do not throw stones, so we will chop that up as a matter of opinion. His skin is darker than mine, but way lighter than that shown in that early picture of Damon. Off to the land of Marine insurance, try not to be jealous!!!!!! Dan M.

Okay my trying to be funny and make this subject lighter did not work.
So let me rephrase.
they are both Tall, dark, and got stuff all over their face.

And don't worry. I am not Jealous.

Damon always tried that stuff with me. Telling me I was jealous because I worked for someone and he never ever had too... I never did quite get it.

 

[fuscusking13]

Okay my trying to be funny and make this subject lighter did not work.
So let me rephrase.
they are both Tall, dark, and got stuff all over their face.

And don't worry. I am not Jealous.

Damon always tried that stuff with me. Telling me I was jealous because I worked for someone and he never ever had too... I never did quite get it.

I meant jealous that I get to work in the ever exciting world of Marine insurance, and deep down you are, you just cant admit it yet, and that post wasnt meant to be serious, I know yours was funny, sadly mine was just honest too, oh well as I like to say you can't win 'em all. Later, Dan M. P.S. I would like to congratulate myself on the worlds longest run on sentance above.

 

[ms_terese]

Dan, I appreciate that you have continued to answer the questions asked of you. Please understand that it just causes some flags to go up when A) you have to sell your animals because you are in dire circumstances; B) you have a friend nearby who breeds ball pythons but doesn't take yours; C) you look to buy another animal as soon as you return from giving David the snakes you couldn't feed; D) the timing discrepancies of the malfunctioning of the car.

Those are all valid questions that the group has had, and I just don't want you to think people are picking on you because you dealt with David. Again, thank you for continuing to be upfront about information.

 

[aj1178]

I purchased a snake from the person in question in post #467
His name is Derek P, and at the time was stationed in Louisiana at Ft Polk, about a 45 minute drive from Oakdale.

 

[fuscusking13]

Dan, I appreciate that you have continued to answer the questions asked of you. Please understand that it just causes some flags to go up when A) you have to sell your animals because you are in dire circumstances; B) you have a friend nearby who breeds ball pythons but doesn't take yours; C) you look to buy another animal as soon as you return from giving David the snakes you couldn't feed; D) the timing discrepancies of the malfunctioning of the car.

Those are all valid questions that the group has had, and I just don't want you to think people are picking on you because you dealt with David. Again, thank you for continuing to be upfront about information.

I actually got the balls from my friend, and he is also getting out of balls after this breeding season (hes about 95 percent sure) so no need to buy them back from me to sell them off, although they are staying at his house now as we speak(they being my two balls and my burm, and one of the balls is not for sale under any circumstance) and the agreement is if he doesnt sell and the last female I have up doesnt then we will split her clutch. These run ons get worse and worse lol. As to the car it was an honest mistake, again sorry for the confusion, even I myself can not be perfect everytime lmao. I was truly in dire circumstances, but to spend $300 out of the money I made on the snakes from David not knowing that I was gonna blow a radiator wasnt a horrible investment for a snake with a market value of $800+. As I said earlier it was an impulse thing and due to missing all of my guys. Dont get me wrong I like the ball python too, but they do not interest me so I got them to start with as a breeding project knowing I would easily part with the babies, because I had wanted to start breeding in 07/08 season, have been learning and assisting my friend over the last year or more (2 seasons with breeding and incubating to learn the genetics and everything.

As to feeling attacked, if I come in here and tell the truth and my opinions, whether they echo others or go dead against them, and get attacked, so be it. I dont feel personally attacked at all. There is nothing wrong with disagreement or debate, its very healthy. Thats what a forum is about to discuss, debate, share whatever. There are some in this thread who are not open to opinion other than their own and those people are few and far between, but they do exist. I always keep an open mind. Everyone knows where I stand at the time and if that changes you will know, believe me, but until something happens that changes my view I am where i am. I dont feel I have attacked anyone, and hopefully no one feels that I have. I love reptiles, this hobby and the entire reptile community and the last thing I want to do is make an enemies, but that does not mean that I will not speak my mind about something that I feel strongly about. If anyone feels that way about me, in all honesty it sucks, but oh well. Anyway as always I am going way above and beyond the simple responce needed here, but what can I say I am a long winded person with a lot to say on the subject, much to the dismay of Fauna viewers everywhere. Have a great evening, I am watching my friends son tonight, but I may be on later after he goes to bed. Dan M.