• Responding to email notices you receive.
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    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

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    Posted 08/15/2025
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    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

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    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

Need info on this person also...

L

LORI KEHOE

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Sorry BUT I need the info on him and another person in relation to an "issue" which has taken place on redtailboa.net/org from an Administrative standpoint.
Soo Anyone got any input as to any dealings in relation to him at all ? I'll take both honest/good guy and bad guy input here. TYIA
 
Lori,

Matt Lerer is a very respected and reputable member of the arboreal community. IMO, he is personally for supplying the reptile industry with some very valuable gems. He is top notch. With an uncanny eye for QUALITY reptiles and first class customer service. I am sure, after reading your other post regarding Joe P., that the old Joe V. Matt saga is taking place on your forum. Here's the long and skinny of it: Joe Polanco has been attacking Matt Lerer as well as myself and others for quite some time now. Joe is the moderator of the Tree Boa Forum. Which he runs like a dictatorship. Anyone who disagrees with him is attacked, deleted, and banned. Joe Polanco does not have the respect, status, and resources that Matt does in obtaining Emerald Tree Boas. I dare say that a great deal of the ETB's that enter this country, go through Matt first. Whereas most people will not deal with Joe. Thus, the back and forth professional jealousy war. Matt Lerer's business ethics, customer service, and reputation are impeccable.

Here is a link to a place where you can learn more about Matt:

Corallus
 
Matt Lerer is a Good Guy almost to a fault! almost too trusting!!...He has sent me over $1000 worth of animals with very little downpayment on trust that I would pay the balance within' a month!  I'm not saying he holds the animals until I pay like most dealers would, but he sends them out (sometimes the next day&#33<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>,without even recieving my downpayment! I've always come through with the payments, but that kind of trust is almost unheard of in this business!
I totally trust Matt.  He honestly represents his animals, and if there's any little problem, he gives me a 100% guarantee.

I have had one dealing with Joe that went OK(baby amazon tree boa), but I wouldn't trust buying an emerald from him at this point. Honestly.

I'm curious Lori, what kind of problems are you having that brings this up?

John Hedger
 
Emerald guy... I have been reading through some of the links that are available in relation to the two persons involved in this..Matt Lerer & Joseph Polanco...There appears sooooo much in relation to Joseph Polanco that I have as yet to finish reading ALL of it  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>  BUT I have read enough to get the "jest" of things that have/has happened. Also I came across a link that provided me with EXACTLY what I needed also to come to a valid conclusion to the matter in an administrative point for our site  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'> GOTTA LOVE THIS BOI !
The problem involved a "complaint" of the use of a picture of an ETB as being one of such in the realm of being in violation of law. This is the picture in question :

Al_s_3_female.sized.jpg



This is the responce that was rendered as a result of "checking out the validity" of exactly WHO the picture belongs to :

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
From: LORI Kehoe
To: Joe P.
Cc: [email protected] ; [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2002 4:38 AM
Subject: Re: Redtailboa.net/org - Your one stop reptile community! - Contact Us Form


At this timem after a length of "checking into" the matter , the following has been found in relation to such :

The picture in question has been "proven" to fall under the ownership of Matt Lerer of GHI Reptiles.

1. The picture in question was taken by Matt Lerer of his own accord while the animal appearing in the picture was in his possession/ownership. He has not represented such as being in conflict to such at all and furthermore ALL inquiry/investigation into such has allocated  such as correct/honest in representation also. Therefore the picture in question is the "personal property" of Matt Lerer. Henceforth, Matt Lerer has the FULL legal validity to utilize that picture , which is the one in question here, as he wishes.

2. The following posting in relation to this picture was found through a bonafide search in relation to the picture also :

"Posted by Ghi Reptiles on February 22, 2002 at 22:44:18:

                [pic in question was posted here ]

Even though he is having a tough time right now in the publics eye, I think everyone would like to see a pic of a snake Joe Polanco just bought. It's a beauty. It came from Al Monteo and was just recently imported with some other nice females. She will make a nice breeder someday. She is about 3 feet long now. I was lucky enough to get a few pics before Al shipped her. Not bad for a digital camera! Nicely positioned too if I do say so myself! "

3. You may "own" the snake in the picture, BUT such does NOT give you the right under any avenue of law to claim "ownership restriction guidelines" in relation to the posting/utilization/reference to such picture.

4. Henceforth, Whereas Matt Lerer has the FULL legal validity to utilize that picture , which is the one in question here, as he wishes, YOU, Joseph Polanco, do NOT have such equivocal rights in regards to the picture in question here.


    In conclusion; Matt Lerer's photo album on the www.redtailboa.net site has now been found to NOT be in any violation of the TOS for such and has since been UNLOCKED and his FULL access to such restored.
    In the future it would be appreciated , on behalf of www.redtailboa.net/org administration , that you refrain from the submission of such "style" of complaint to our Administrative department.
    Thank You for your inquiry and have a nice day ! ;}







LORI KEHOE

Administrator @
www.redtailboa.net

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

PLEASE, Should anyone know differently in relation to the ownership of this picture please contact me @ [email protected]

On another note, I attempted to speak with BOTH parties involved here to resolve the issue at hand.

Joseph Polanco : All I got was an answering machine with no call back from a message left prior to conclusion in the matter.


Matt Lerer : I spoke with him for a great length of time. He was able to establish WHO[ was the photographer of the specific picture, the exact layout of which the picture was taken, ID'd the background images in the picture, provide a HX of the subject matter of the picture, offered to provide any/all further proof needed to establish his ownership of the picture and the list goes on, BUT ya get the idea here.
    Matt was a great person to speak with ! From a personal standpoint : If and when I ever get into the ETB's, I'd prolly look him up even.
NO, The matter was NOT brought up in our forums , yet rather "behind" the scenes with Administration via our "contact us" link on our site.

On another note between these two parties :

Having a legal background myself [But such was not needed for what I did even ] and great access to the internet I was able to find a very lengthy and in depth HX record of "court filings" where Joseph Polanco was the Plaintiff in "herp" related issues brought by him. So I am well aware of his "tactics". Thanx for the warnings anyway though. I have already notified our site's owner to the possibility of such filings in relation to this matter as well. Everything shall remain to be very carefully documented in relation to this matter should the need arise to involve our legal representation.

    On the other hand, no legal filings could be found in relation to Matt Lerer under herp related dealings.  
 BOTH parties were "researched" in a legal sense so that there existed no bias toward anyone.
SORRY for the lengthy post here...
 
OH and Matt?

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> If and when I ever get into the ETB's, I'd prolly look him up even. </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

You'd have to find me one that's as "TAME" as the one in this pic hehe Seeing as ALL my kids are hands on herpers. This is my 6 year old daughter , Pamella, with a friend's "TAME" ETB. The ETB belongs to Juliussqueezer of our site, the pic was taken by myself and belongs to me lol  [ NOT that we have any issues over it at all lmao]

PAMMY_with_Esmerelda_ETB_3_17_02.sized.jpg
 
Lori,

I'm glad to see that you took the time to do thorough research into this matter. I stand behind my statements regarding both Matt and Joe 100 percent. Regarding Matt, his business ethics alone speak volumes. To this day, I regret passing up a deal that Matt offered to me. Needless to say, it was a phenomenal snake for a phenomenal price. The term "deal" would be a gross understatement. Anyways, Matt Lerer is a dealer of the highest caliber. There is a parade of people willing to support that fact.

<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">GOTTA LOVE THIS BOI !</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Amen to that Lori.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Matt Lerer is a dealer of the highest caliber. There is a parade of people willing to support that fact.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Joe Polanco does not have the respect, status, and resources that Matt does in obtaining Emerald Tree Boas.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>RTFLMAO

Couldnt have said it better myself John Reese.  

I have the same stories as John Hedger but more like into the 2 and 3 grand range.  Show me just one other dealer that trusting and truely honest customers paying in full to boot.  Even with no money down.

I have said it before and I'll say it again. Matt Lereh of Ghi Reptiles is a "Good Guy."
 
wait...let me try to get this straight.....as you all know I can be pretty slow.

Let's say I was at Lori's house.
Let's say I took a picture of a snake that Lori had...
Let's say she sold the snake to Joe Polanco...
Are you saying that Joe complained because he now owns the snake and ALL the pictures that I took?


geez I better send pictures of my old bike and my old truck to whoever owns it now.  Before I "violate any law(s)"
I better send pictures of old girlfriends to whoever they are with now.  (can I still keep the nudies?)

wow Joe....you are impressive.
 
Please excuse my blatant ignorance here.  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>  
In the midst of dealing with this issue I also was dealing with a very PI$$Y 15' , 125+lb Burmese Python with a MAJOR 'tude going on
[ managed to get through it without getting bit too hehe]as well as a severely health jeopardized Boa I have here atm. ALL while tending to this matter also at hand. I forgot to post the "issue" that came up which led to the posts here in regards to both Matt Lerer & Joseph Polanco Here it is now.. Sorry.. about only posting the conclusionary point in the thread....

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
From:   [email protected]  

 

To:   [email protected]  

 

Subject:   Redtailboa.net/org - Your one stop reptile community! - Contact Us Form  

 

Date:   Tue, 18 Jun 2002 16:14<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':0'>7 -0400  

 



Joseph M. Polanco, Submitted the following Information:
Email: [email protected]
URL:
Company: DGS
Location: USA
Comments:
One of your photo account holders is publically displaying pictures of my
animals in his photo albums. He took these pictures without my consent has
not paid any royalties and has been refused requests to remove them. He
is violation of the Federal Privacy in Ownership statutes and and as the
vendor supplying him with the medium, Retailboa.net/org (as well as several
other photo hosts where Mr. Lerer has accounts) is complicit in this violation.
I request that you order the removal of the following picture.

http://photo.redtailboa.org/EMERALDS/Al_s_3_female

Thank you for your cooperation.

Joseph M. Polanco


</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Hope that sheds more light on the matter.

LORI stepping out of RTB admin role here for a minute...

OH AND Ritchie....Does this mean that the pics I have of that GORGEOUS Albino BURM aka PRINCESS , which I transported for ya last year, that I took some pics of NOW belong to you  and I can't use them ? [ From your standpoint of course ..LMAO] I'm j/k ya know Ritchie ;} [BUT I do have some pics somewhere of her hehe]

WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
 
Hey Lori.

You are in violation of federal statues  124.97 sub paragraph 3.  It reads....I can be as whiny as I want.

What does this translate to?

The pictures YOU took with YOUR camera without permision of the snake that belongs to ME, that YOU transported to me as a favor to me....legally belongs to me.

therefore since you took the picture without permission.  I hereby sentence you to ten spankings.  And I order this punishment to be carried out by your husband at the privacy of your own home at your leisure.


good day.
see ya round the other sites.


p.s.  Hey Joe.  You have not received delivery of the snakes in question.  Therefore he had every right to take pictures.

here is an example.
I paid for my truck.  It was one of the first few tacomas with a supercharger.  They took pictures of it without my knowledge.  But they took pictures of it at the show room....BEFORE I took delivery.  Guess what I won't cry about it.  Besides it was in some magazine or truck catalog somewhere.  I was proud and honored that someone would want to take pictures of something I own.
 
Just out of curiosity, what is this "Federal Privacy in Ownership statutes" that JoeP mentions?
 
No Duh Ritchie

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I was proud and honored that someone would want to take pictures of something I own.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Thats because you have pride and honor.

<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just out of curiosity, what is this "Federal Privacy in Ownership statutes" that JoeP mentions?</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Ya got me, Webslave. I ran several searches and could not find it anywhere. I'm starting to think that Joe makes up something that sounds reasonable and then tries to intimidate people with it. Worst case scenario, wouldn't an alleged transgression of photo fraud be considered as copyright infringement?

This guy just won't give up the ghost!!!  <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':angry:'>
 
The act he should have quoted was the "Digital Millennium Copyright Act" and it still wouldn't have applied to this situation as it is the photo that is owned not the object photographed.

Here's a link to the complete act:
Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Dude just had diarrhea of the keyboard and doesn't know squat.
 
While Joe may be rather litigous, it appears that he severely misunderstands copyright law. Everyone is correct in the assertion that he has no rights to the picture in question whatsoever. The law is very explicit in this regard.

Remember folks, just because someone spends a lot of time suing people, it doesn't make them a legal expert..lol. The "Federal...Statutes" tha Joe cited could not be found in a search of the USC or CFR, and is actually contradictory to established copyright law.
 
Correct Ken. As the established copyright laws exist in such venue that they parlay the following.. [ in regards to graphic materials, which a picture is ;} ]...

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Duration of copyright: Works created on or after January 1, 1978
4(a) In General.-Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and, except as provided by the following subsections, endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the author's death.

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Title 17 of The USC also states...
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">(e) Transfer and Waiver.- (1) The rights conferred by subsection (a) may not be transferred, but those rights may be waived if the author expressly agrees to such waiver in a written instrument signed by the author. Such instrument shall specifically identify the work, and uses of that work, to which the waiver applies, and the waiver shall apply only to the work and uses so identified. In the case of a joint work prepared by two or more authors, a waiver of rights under this paragraph made by one such author waives such rights for all such authors.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

[I was not under the belief that Matt Lerer in any way transfered and/or waived his rights to the authorship of the picture in question at any time..to ANYONE from the discussion I had with him.[/B]



I'd also have to agree in regards to the "inaccuracies relative to the Fedreal Privacy Statutes also myself. Of all the searchable statutes relative to privacy, none can be found which relate to "Privacy in Ownership" in relation to a materialistic object which can be directly correlated to something such as an animal..or in this case a snake. Privacy laws/statutes are relative to such things as identification venues ie SS#, personal identification information, medical records and the like.

Oh RITCHIE...</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">therefore since you took the picture without permission.  I hereby sentence you to ten spankings.  And I order this punishment to be carried out by your husband at the privacy of your own home at your leisure.

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>LMAO.. I told hubby and ..umm.. I'll be back later hahaha <img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>
 
Hey Lori,

Here is an accurate insight into the character of Matt Lerer:

Matt Lerer

<img src="http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>
 
So to sum up:

I think the lesson that should be learned here is if you are going to try to pull stupid crap like JoeP tried recently, do try it with Redtailboa.net because you will have Lori, Ritchie, and myself all over you so fast it'll make you dizzy.

-Your Sick Uncle Morti.
 
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