• 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.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    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....

THE SNAKE PIT WAS BURGLARIZED *AGAIN* LAST NIGHT!!

The point of my last (2) posts is this: If anyone digs deep enough, or is anal enough, they can find discrepancies in anyones story. However, all it boils down to is circumstantial. Borderline grasping at straws. Still, nothing convictable. Which brings me to this:

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I have a idea,I want whomever to call me in the mouning and I will tell you the evidance I have to prove Neil did this,But in return I want each persons word that they will not post or have it posted .This is to protect the people that are willing to go to court against Neil.Email me and I will give you my number.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

Dave-

Theoretically, were I to call you, what would it prove? You could tell me that Elvis is your next-door neighbor. You can say whatever you want. You could lie your @ss off. How, as the receiving party, would I know your "evidence" is accurate? How am I to know that you are truthful? Verbally spoken "evidence" is equivalent to hand typed screen word "evidence". The only "true evidence" is that which can be visibly seen. I.e: photos, documents, etc. etc.. If you can tell me how, over the phone, you can beyond a shadow of a doubt prove Neil's guilt to me, then I will call you tomorrow. If not, well, that brings me to:

If this matter is so near and dear to you, why have you,yourself, not already brought Neil up on charges? Why do you not have any copies of a police report where you reported Neil's alleged "transgressions" to the T.P.D.? Why have you not already brought litigation against Neil? Why have your other "people", that you are trying to protect, not joined you in reporting Neil to the proper authorities? Or in bringing litigation?

My final point(s) is this:
  1: It is easy to take sides here.
  2: It is easy to say you have proof.
  3: It is easy to attack one side or the other.
  4: It is hard to substantiate your claims.
  5: NO concrete evidence, supporting Neil's or Dave's claims, has been offered to date.
  6: This has become what I refer to as a pissing contest.

I don't know how to say it any more bluntly than to say:

Put up or shut up.

Dave and Neil: In a lot of peoples' eyes, you guys are losing credibility in leaps and bounds. The time for talk has long since passed. It is now time to walk the walk. Actions speak louder than words, phone calls, posts and e-mails. Seriously guys, a resolution needs to be achieved here. And it needs to come quickly. I wish you Neil and you Dave the best of luck in the future. But this has to stop now!!!
 
Yeah.....I'm gettin' pretty tired of "YOU JUST WAIT....BET ON IT"....."NO YOU WAIT UNTIL MONDAY.....I'VE GOT A SURPRISE FOR YOU"........BLAH....BLAH....BLAH........

I wouldn't believe either of these guys if their tounges were notarized!

Either END it or PROVE it......ANYBODY!

Tom Chambers
 
Good point John
No answers yet.......?.......
why?.?.?.
maybe these two were involved in this mess together and something went sour between them
No not accusations I am stating my thoughts
Both people are afraid to admit the WHOLE truth
both people can not answer simple questions
Kind of makes me wonder that the idea 'if I go down so does he' applies here.................hmmmm
 
You are right ,forget the last post.

Now to answer the question you've put to me.

I am in the process of getting charges put on Neil (trying to,But I am told that the true owner has to file them) there is no law that states you can not take your own animals or break into your property Unless you file a report with the police which is what he did in 2 of the robberies so those are what I am focusing on the 3/25/01 and this last one.I can prove insurance fraud on the 3/25/01 (hell that is all right here I did not need the paperwork I have).Myself and someothers are waiting for the Det. to return from vacation and then we will present our case and evidence to him on this and the rest of the robberies.We have spoken to channel 13 about doing something if the police can not.We do have our ducks in a row we now are waiting for the people to present it to.I have wholesalers that will tell how Neil ask them to fill out false recepts,recepts from where Neil got animal and copies of recepts where Neil sold the same aniamls that he claimed were stolen.I have it all well until tomarrow then the insurance board will have copies lock,stock and barrel.I do not know what I can do to help the people that donated money my attorney said that you all as a group have to put suit against Jandeg inc. as a whole and then Neil's dad will pay not Neil.But I some of what I have will help and when
 
I have not posted because of my Attorney's advice! Philip Townes IS my attorney....I HAVE given him a large retainer! I will let the courts decide this matter! And I will listen to my Attorney's advice to keep quiet! ....
There is ONE thing that I can clear up that I don't think he'd mind me telling you...

First of all...my memory is SHOT! Ask anybody...especially Angie! It took me a couple of days of talking to Angie to remember what happened...

The burglary that everybody donated to, went like this...

It occured sometime on a Saturday night...when I got to the store on Sunday morning, I thought I could hear crickets?? Which seemed very odd! When I opened the front door...the alarm was going off and I hadn't been called by the alarm company!! When I walked inside, I just had to stand there in silence for a couple of minutes to get all this registered....all I saw were snakes slithering here, mice running there, a dead, squished turtle in front of me, glass all over the place! Now remember....none of you...I mean, none of you, were involved at this time...you knew nothing about it....I immediately called the cops, who came out immediately, I then called Angie, who also came in (on her day off)...the place was a shambles...it was destroyed! Now, I am opened on Sundays, so when some of my customers (who WILL testify) began showing up...they, not only saw the destruction, but also graciously agreed to stay and help clean up...When the cops showed up, they wanted an inventory of what was stolen....I had no idea of the extent of the burglary, yet....there were animals still loose all over the place....I just knew that the big ones were gone...and YES! There was ABOUT $500 in cash stolen BOTH TIMES! Minor cash taken the other two!
I did NOT have insurance for that burglary....it's VERY possible that I decided to NOT make a Police report on that case because of the lack of cooperation from the first two times (I'll get back to "The Second Time" in a minute)....but...even if I decided NOT to make a Police Report on that burglary...what's the difference??? I didn't have insurance...I couldn't collect a dime??? You people weren't even involved yet??? So, What's the big deal if I made a report or not?? It means nothing except the fact that I have a hair-trigger and a lousy memory! And I couldn't remember about it, or the actual dates before....which brings me to "The Second Time"....
I had forgot all about the bullet holes in 1998 that I DID make a report on...that's the second report number you have for 98....and they WERE bullet holes because they were shot into my Plexiglas front door and they are STILL there, if any of you would like to see them.....so that's the story of the burglary....after Rich started the FaunaFund....the Police Report never came into play...why should it have???
The rest I will leave up to my very capable REAL Attorney....I take this as a VERY serious matter, and it is now past the point of no return!!
I will leave you now....Neil
 
Well I received a private email ass chewing from Neil after my last post so I"ll probably get another, but hey I guess that makes me one of the "in" crowd.
Neil, You have talked about suing Dave for slander and libel because you claim you have people who won't do business with you now because of his accusations ( and that is just what they are with the exception of the facts on the police reports he posted).  
From what I can tell, and please everyone correct me if I am wrong, but those who have lost faith in you have done so because of what  *you* have or have not said.  Your silence when asked the "hard" questions and your anger in your emails when any one questions you is what has turned people away.
The accusations from Dave were doubted by almost everyone until you started being evasive. Most of the people you are angry with now stood up for you in the beginning and were willing to put their reputations on the line for you.  You left them hanging.
We all understand you have a case pending, but that should not stop you from being able to post "facts" about your December burglary that we all donated money to in an attempt to  help find the guilty party. You have been asked the same questions over and over. At least give us all the satisfaction of knowing we weren't all suckers for donating to what we beleived to be a fellow herper in trouble. Give us the facts about December...  
Darla
 
WHAT IS "DEFAMATION"?
Defamation, sometimes called "defamation of character", is spoken or written words that falsely and negatively reflect on a living person's reputation.

If a person or the news media says or writes something about you that is understood to lower your reputation, or that keeps people from associating with you, defamation has occurred. Slander and libel are two forms of defamation.

WHAT IS "SLANDER"?
Slander is a spoken defamation.

 

WHAT IS "LIBEL"?
Libel is a written defamation. Generally, radio and television broadcasts that are defamatory are considered to be libel, rather than slander.

CAN I SUE SOMEONE WHO SAYS OR WRITES SOMETHING DEFAMATORY ABOUT ME?
In order to prove defamation, you have to be able to prove that what was said or written about you was false. If the information is true, or if you consented to publication of the material, you will not have a case. However, you may bring an defamatory action if the comments are so reprehensible and false that they effect your reputation in the community or cast aspersions on you.

 

CAN LIBEL SUITS BE BROUGHT BY A PUBLIC FIGURE?
These suits are a bit dicier for the public figure.

A public figure may be an elected or appointed (a politician) or someone who has stepped into a public controversy (e.g., movie stars and TV stars, star athletes). Public figures have a "harder road to toll" than the average person since they must prove that the party defaming them knew the statements were false, made them with actual malice, or was negligent in saying or writing them. Proving these elements makes the chance of a successful lawsuit slim.

WHAT ABOUT INSULTS AND EPITHETS? ARE THEY DEFAMATORY?
Generally, no. Usually they are seen as outbursts of emotion, with no real substance, except to show intense dislike.

DON'T I HAVE A RIGHT TO EXPRESS MY OPINION?
Yes, so long as your statement of opinion is just an opinion, not containing specific facts that can be proved untrue.
 
Just an observation from a completely unbiased
observer.
I have been in and out of this buisness for almost
10yrs. now and have never seen anything get as out of
hand as this whole situation.
I have been following this thread for about a week and I do not know any of the people involved.

At first I found this thread rather amusing but now after
so many accusations (sp.) back and forth and flaming ithink
its more sad than anything.
I find that I don't even care about guilt or inoscence but
I do know that this whole thing cannot be good for this
industry.

As of right now the only conclusion that I have made is
that I will never do buisiness with Neil or Dave. Not
because I thinks either is guilty but because of the
totaly idiotic and childish way that both parties
have been conducting themselves on this board.

I feel that neither of them has been completely honest
in regards to questions posted to them and if this is
the way they are to people that know them and concider
them friends then how do they conduct thier buisiness
with potential customers.  

Of course this is just my oppinion but
I could be wrong.
 
ARE THERE DEFENSES TO DEFAMATION?
Establishing the truth is the single most effective defense that can be offered. If the remark is truthful and it "hurts", is embarrassing, or subjects you to ridicule, there is little you can do. Unfortunately, unless the remark is false, you have no recourse.

 


WHAT ARE THE DEFENSES TO A LIBEL CLAIM?
There are three main defenses to a libel claim (other than asserting that it never happened or that you were never involved):

The first is claiming, and proving, that the statement was privileged (and thus not public). Only certain professions (doctors, lawyers, psychologists), or individuals (chiefly your spouse) can maintain that privilege; and if any non-privileged third party was part of the communication, the privilege is broken. (Employees of a professional are only partially covered, to the extent that you needed to use them to contact the professional. Don't expect to tell your deepest, darkest secret to your attorney's secretary, and maintain that privilege.)
The second defense is claiming, and proving, that the statement is true, for "truth is an absolute defense".  
The third defense is claiming, and proving, that the statement was an opinion, not an assertion of a fact. Since this last defense is only as good as the weakest or worst, but still reasonable, misinterpretation, it's not one you really want to rely on. There's a world of difference between saying "I think he's a crook," and "he's a crook". Especially if a third party might inadvertently leave out the first two words when passing  your message on.
 
WHAT DAMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SLANDER OR LIBEL?
If you have been defamed you may seek both actual damages, to recover the harm that you have suffered, and punitive damages to punish the person who made the remark (and serve as an example to deter others).

If the defamation improperly accused you of a crime or reflected on your profession, the Court or jury can assess the damages. For other types of defamation you must prove some actual damage to be able to recover.

 
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE SLANDERS OR LIBELS SOMEONE WHO IS DEAD?
While it may be reprehensible to say false things about someone who has died, in most states it is not legally actionable. No action can be taken on behalf of a dead person.

CAN I SUE FOR DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS MADE BY A WITNESS UNDER OATH IN A JUDICIAL PROCEEDING?
Statements in a judicial proceeding are privileged. A judge, juror, lawyers, witnesses, or other parties are absolutely protected. For example, you are involved in an employment dispute with your former employer who lets it be known to everyone that you are a drunk and a thief, knowing that it is untrue. Your former employer can make this defamatory statement without being sued by you afterwards.

Also protected are the remarks made by federal or state legislators in committee hearings or floor debates.
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">So, What's the big deal if I made a report or not?? It means nothing except the fact that I have a hair-trigger and a lousy memory!</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

What is the big Deal?  The big Deal is you were SWEARING UP AND DOWN that you filed a police report for december 2001.  Now whoopsy you forgot about it.  How are we suppose to know this is the truth?  Maybe you just forgot that you don't have a memory problem.

You told us an animal was stolen....whoopsy it was in the fridge.

You made a post asking what James Stole from us....Why did you not just ask him?  After all you talked to him a lot......

Let me see.  You told us an aneryish granite was stolen............you were caught in a lie....but it is not really a lie because you were confused.

You told us and swore up and down that we can walk into your store and you will show us four (4) police reports...because you had them in hand....  but when we caught your lie....all of a sudden you forgot that you did not file one.

Is that why you wanted me to trust in you blindly?  So I do not see your lies?

sorry but no one is excempt from answering questions.
The bad guys AND the good guys have to asnwer questions.
But go ahead and hide behind your lawyer.
 
I'm not going to say anything about this thread....I am going to say something about me, with hopes that you might be able to put a different perspective on this....

To start with...I have never had a bad guy post about my animal SALES!! Yeah, a couple of folks complained about the store, but, they all changed their mind...and those that didn't....I listened to them, made some changes, and moved on...you've all seen it!
I've never "knowingly" lied to you...ever...I'm just nt like that!
I would never, and I could never deceive you...again...it's just not my nature....
I have always been one to give instead of receive...you've all seen that, too??
I've always been on the side of doing the right thing, and I've always used my hair-pin temper when riled...as Ritchie says..."Hey, man...that's just me!"
I would never (and have never) stolen anything from anybody...ever!!
I love this business and I will stay in this business....and I will continue to do the right thing (the way I see it), always!!
I'm sorry this all had to come to this...but, if you recall, I had nothing to do with starting it, and I haven't even responded for 10 or so pages??
Whether some of you continue to do business with me or not, you will still never see a bad guy post about me...
As you've all seen in the past...when someone accuses me of something that I might have done wrong...I have always apologized, changed my way of thinking, and moved on a better person???
When someone says something about me that I know is not true...and they do it over and over and over and over again, with absolutely no proof of any kind whatsoever!! I get very frustrated and I lash out, as some of you can attest...and I DO apologize for that, because I really do like most of you!!
With all of this said....you can be your own judge and jury...
I will **prove** my innocence, and I will be vindicated in full! Unfortunately....this is not over by a long shot! But...at this point, I have no choice!
From now on....I WILL stay silent and hope SOME OF YOU will understand my predicament! ....Neil
 
OK, so this is probably a really dumb question, and I am sorry for asking it with everything else going on in here.  But Neil, why did you get a lawyer in Orlando?  Why not in your home town of Tampa? There must be more lawyers in Tampa than there are grains of sand in all of Florida's beaches!  Why not pick someone closer to home?
 
Neil,
You may find this hard to believe at this point....but I hope you ARE innocent.

but getting Dave to shut up and showing his criminal background does not say a thing.  It was not too long ago you say he is not a bad guy andhe CAN be trusted.  Today you are putting allot of emphasis on his background.

You might get him to shut up.....but the unanswered questions are still there.

Quick question Neil.....When did lawyers start e-mailing potential adversaries?  

Aslo why did YOU post an e-mail that was "for the eyes only" of Dave?
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">May the real truth be exposed</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

We can only hope, Ritchie.

This whole saga really is a sad commentary on the reptile industry, friendships, and the concept of truth in general.
 
I thought nothing was killed in this burglary... But you said one of the first thing's you saw when you walked in the store was a squashed turtle. What's the real story?

Paul Snyder
 
I understand all of your concerns about what this thread could do to OUR industry....well, if you're going to put blame anywhere...it should rest directly on Dave Lawson's shoulders! He started this mess...he's precipitating this mess...and he's continuing this mess with more vigor with each post! There comes a point where enough is enough...you just can't "talk" your way out of something you have no idea about?? It is now time for me to take action! I will get my good name back!
Dave and I were never "close friends"...we were just business associates that lived in the same area....I've never been to his house!! But...I always thought of him as a friend?? Heck...I've stuck up for him at every turn when he was having that problem with Ray and then the other one with Richard Cole (who Dave swore to me that he was responsible for my last burglary) even Tom Crowley could attest to the fact that I told him that name....who else would have told me??
For the life of me...I have NO CLUE why Dave has turned on me so vehemently?? But, unforunately, it's too late now...too much has been wrongly said and done for me not to take further action...If I allow him to get away with doing this to me....who will be his next victim?? YOU?? You folks will have to make up your own mind! ....Neil
 
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"> You folks will have to make up your own mind! </td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

This one seems to be over your head, Neil. What do you think we are trying to do here? Find out all the facts to make our minds up. To form a fair and accurate decision and/or opinion. Put aside your feelings of being attacked and crucified for a moment. And let me ask you a question or two. Why do you think that we have been questioning you so tenaciously? Why do you think we still continue to question you? Why do you think that we haven't just written you off completely? Why do you think we still continue to ask both YOU and Dave for proof?

Let me offer some answers that may have possibly escaped you.
  1. You DO have friends out here.
  2. There ARE people who DON'T want you to be guilty.
  3. There are people who look or have looked up to you.
  4. There are people who want and deserve the TRUTH.
  5. You have been a staple of this BOI.
  6. There are people who BELIEVE(d) in you.
  7. The ARE those of us who BELIEVE in looking out for a fellow HERPER in need.

Take the time to truly think about it, Neil. If this was an average bad guy post, you would have been crucified by now. But WE all have given you chance after chance. NOWHERE in any previous bad guy thread, has anyone been given the chances that you have. He!!, nowhere in any thread has any "alleged" bad guy had anyone wanting the accusations to be not true. You of all people should know this. So I'm telling you Neil. Get off your high horse. Wake up and truly read the posts. Truly read them. Instead of getting all fired up and going on the attack. In another post of yours, you said "Go ask John Reese how it feels". Guess what, Neil? I am John Reese. And I'm telling you it thoroughly sucks. But take a look at how I responded to the attacks and how I maintained my candor. You had better believe I was fired up. I could have let me fury take over. I could have really gone off on the guy. But I chose to respond with tact, integrity, and dignity. And (hopefully) it spoke volumes about my character. Think about what I've said, Neil.

Truly think about it!!! Words to live by.
 
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