Where do I even begin? Everything Tim Ollendick “herpOly” has posted is correct. Bill and Linda did in fact keep animals that they should have not had. I know this for a fact, because I did take care of their animals a few times. I also seen them purchase many animals they should have not purchased in the City of Dubuque. Bill & Linda purchased Hognose from a fellow snake breeder in Wisconsin, and bull snakes at a show in Indy. These are both protected in Iowa where they live.
As for the city ordnance where they live, I know it very well. I helped write it about fifteen years ago. The ordinance posted earlier in is tread is not correct. The City of Dubuque was out to outlaw constrictor snakes fifteen years ago. That would mean basically all snakes. At the time I managed a large warehouse type pet store. This would have hurt my business very much. I went before the city council a few time times. We came to an agreement to outlaw boas and pythons. I wanted a size/length limit such as our neighboring state of Illinois. They did not want that for the fear that something would get left out. I tried at the time to get certain things exempt such as rosy/sand boas, and smaller pythons ball, children’s, and spotted. No such luck.
At this time I met the people from animal control in the city. I have stayed in contact with them over the years. The city’s human society does not accept reptiles. They approached me to help find homes for new animals at times. I have worked with them many times over the years to help place confiscated, and abandon animals.
Bill and Linda were selling reptiles at shows locally. On their table were animals you can not keep in the city of Dubuque, and or Iowa. They even sold illegal animals to pet stores in their city. It was reported to the city of Dubuque and brought to my attention.
When I was approached by the City on the subject by a phone call and email, I cooperated with the city. As already stated in a pervious tread. The City of Dubuque had already called on Bill & Linda without a warrant. In what I believe was approximately mid to late august. I was contacted by the city after the visit. The city asked about Bill and Linda and I spoke to them.
I did not send a letter to the city, or even write any letter. Base upon these question presented to me. A written statement was prepared by the city which I indeed signed.
Was it the right thing to do? Maybe, maybe not, but after having nothing but problems with these two all summer long. I fought back. These people still owe me money on cases of deli cups, and hatchling racks taken from my home. This is not the issue here.
As for breeding loans. They had an adult male water cobra of mine. They bred their female. I was told she had eleven eggs. I got two babies from the loan. In May of 2006 it was bought to my attention they were trying to sell my adult water cobra. This is information I received from a call from Tom Weidner of Des Moines Iowa. Tom knew of the breeding loan. Tom did purchase a baby from Bill and Linda for a fair exhibit he does. This was witnessed by Ed Twedt past president of he Iowa Herp Society. When I asked Bill and Linda about it they denied it.
I did get the water cobra back in late august of 2006. Bill and Linda “The Dubuque Two” retuned it to a show where we were both vendors. The show was in the state of Illinois. Were it is illegal to possess venomous animals. This was not cool either on their part. I went to the show promoter right away. Thank god he had the correct paperwork to have venomous. He was good enough to keep it to the end of the show for me.
This is like a messy divorce. My dealings were between Bill and myself. It is like Linda comes in as a new girlfriend and wants to let the world know that I am a bastard. Bill has not posted here and no one has asked him for his side of the story.
I do this for living. I have been in the reptile business for over twenty five years. I am not perfect. I am sure that over that time frame I have had a few customers not have deals go their way. I remember one, when I received a call ten months after selling a snake to a guy. It came down with a respiratory problem. He wanted the money for the vet bill. I said no, it was ten months later. At a show later that year, I saw the gentleman again we talked. I gave him money off on a second snake he was happy. I try to be fair.
As for the lawsuit concerning the albino ball in question, when Bill asked for his snakes back, I returned them all within two weeks except one. I took pictures of all of his animals. I put the pictures with the records of who they were bred to. I put a note in the box stating that I would give them the records when I got paid for the deli cups and racks. I did keep the albino female ball python. I had had this animal in my possession over four years. Maybe I should have returned the animal. I guess I was just stubborn in the matter. Maybe leverage on get paid the money they owe me. I look back at it now. I wish I would have just given it back and been done with the” Dubuque Two”, but now I think I will never be done with the“The Dubuque Two”
To clear up something here, I did not produce the albino balls. They came in a large group purchased from Anthony McCain in late fall of 2002. The animals all fed when I received them from McCain. I fed them myself before I gave them to Bill, because he was a beginner in the business. I wanted make sure they were feeding before turning over to him.
In February of 2003 it was brought to my attention that the female had gone off of food. I had Bill bring the snake to my home ten miles away to take possession. I cleaned, and cared for the animal till February of 2007.
I did try to purchase the albino ball from “The Dubuque Two.” This is after they would come to my table at show and tell people not to buy from me. Yes, I do have witnesses to that fact. I had statements when we went to court. They gave me a price at the Tinley Park show of $4000.00. Ok this is a 4 ½ year old mouse/gerbil feeding female that they paid $2200.00 for. I had that animal for four years of its life. They would not take their snake back at the end. They now wanted $5000.00 for it. Yes that is $2800.00 for doing nothing. They paid $2200 for it. The judge asked “The Dubuque two” in court why they would not take the snake back. They did not respond. The judge asked if I could return it in 48 hours. I offered to give it to them on their way home. They declined. The bailiff said it would be best if I did not return the snake myself. It would be best to have someone else return. I called the Dubuque police to see if they would have an officer wait in front of their home. That stated they could not go there with me. So being ordered to return the snake to their home, I drove Tim Ollendick to their home. He handed them the snake. There was a minor problem with Linda calling him names. He had been out of the hospital for one week after his stroke, and didn’t need this abuse.
There are no winners in this mess, but I hope some good can come out of this nonsense. If you are in a sometimes controversial business like the reptile business, you can be out in the open and help educate, or you can be in the closet. I have always been in the open. My local fire department had concerns about my operation. I allowed officials to come to my home and see my operation. I answered all their questions and relieved them of their concerns. Firefighters and rescue workers have the right to know what they are getting into. They are trying to protect you, your family, and your property. Bill & Linda chose to be in the closet. When animal control visited their house in August, Bill and Linda lied to the authorities. I believe if they had told the truth about their operation, they may have been given a chance to comply with the law. Shortly there after is when the city contacted me about this issue. They got caught in a lie and were made an example of. They chose their own path. After their neighbors started a petition, Bill & Linda antagonized the neighbors by hanging a large stuffed toy snake outside their home with a stuffed rat in its mouth. How is that helping the reptile community?
If you are violating laws and ordinances in your community please stop, or move to where it is not illegal. If you are facing an unfair law the herp community is an internet post away and ready to help you. I apologize for my part in this mess, I hope a reasonable person can understand I was backed in a corner and felt I had no other choice.
I have just received the details of animal controls dealings with the city, as did Mike Roe. This is Damian47 who has responded to many posts. Mike Roe and I requested this paper work last week as this tread was taking off. I wanted to have all evidence before I made my post. Especially since I saw how Mike Roe was attacked. Since Mike did a lot of the footwork, and his character came in to question, I will allow him to post the city’s evidence tomorrow morning. In writing this post I have attempted to answer the questions that have arisen in this post. I have two jobs will not be available to answer every question that may come up. Hopefully this post will answer all your questions.
Thank you, for your consideration
Jim Stelpflug
Southwest Wisconsin Reptiles
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