Originally Posted by
mike
The following is a long review/detailed list of interactions with Leah/Free Spirit. This is all well documented by both emails, forum posts, and printed copies of both..
A few months ago I lost my job, I had no source of incoming and turned to running and operating a small reptile business, as well as doing rehab work for some reptiles. I had a lot of time on my hands and was having a blast. Soon I was alerted to a post on craigslist about taking in unwanted reptiles. The information presented was awful, the grammar was sub 5th grade level and of course, the flagging war began. No big deal, innocent people flagging each other. She opened her "rescue/sanctuary" shortly after on facebook and publicly. At around the same time, M&M Reptiles was officially created.
Things happened on craigslist and we ended up getting into it with each other. I called her out on many of her practices, her husbandry, her attitude, and a multitude of other things. I ended up receiving a message on facebook inviting me to resolve the issue here on this forum rather than on the public classifieds of craigslist. This turned in to an open debate between us and a couple other people here, and was eventually killed off. Leah and I spoke privately in Emails about things and we agreed to be on speaking terms. However, before too long things had drove me to the point of making a second topic here on the forums openly discussing some of her policies such as adoption fees- and **** hit the fan.
Timor Monitor mentioned in an above post:
I inquired to her about how she kept this monitor originally via my girlfriends facebook account. She gave me all sorts of wrong information and we left it be. When we where back on speaking terms I inquired about this monitor often- as monitors are in general a specific specialty of mine. She assured me he was in a new cage- she just couldn't take pictures. Week after week everything else had pictures taken but not the monitor, I apparently didn't deserve pictures of the monitors care, and was assured yet again the monitor was well taken care of. The monitor I believe is still in the same cage- with wrong husbandry, wrong diet, poor interaction, and in bad shape. I do know she has already killed another monitor in her care. Fine.
Kingsnakes:
These where interesting. Within a couple days of having these snakes- they where up for adoption. This is a practice no realistic reptile rescue would ever do. None of them where quarantined or inspected properly. The snakes she was given for free- where then posted for $55 each on craigslist (or varying amounts close to that) frequently, sometimes several times per day. She claimed the $55 was to recoup the care and food costs. She breeds her own rats, so in reality the food cost was very low. All of her arguments where flawed and she was only proving one thing: she was using her "rescue" to use the ploy of "adoption" to charge a higher price for her animals.
My Crocodile Geckos:
After telling everyone she's so short on money, and space, and time to properly take care of the animals SHE had the audacity to email me asking about taking in a pair of Crocodile Geckos I had. She was even going as far as to buy them off of me if possible - of which I declined of course knowing the care of her other animals.
After I made my last topic- I was told via private message to not contact her again. I did not message her in any form, she later invited me openly on the forums to email her FSF email with any questions/concerns I may have. I went to eat lunch and thought nothing of it. I came back to find a rant from her mother in my voice mail, I was screamed at and cussed out so I decided to return the phone call and try to speak rationally. I was met with threats, screaming, cursing, and personal insults. Including and not limited to such things as "fat prick" (I'm 6'0 155...), "retard", "stupid ****er", "idiot", "***hole", "broke", "worthless", "scum", etc etc. I politely told Leah's mother to not call this number again or I would pursue charges. Within 10 minutes (almost exactly, I need to check the paperwork), I had received another call ranting at me for another 10 or so minutes. They went as far as to call the police on me (in which me and the sheriff had a great conversation about
the ordeal, and he said I am far from in the wrong, considering I have so much proof of what actually happened).
I can say the following:
She has had multiple perfectly healthy animals die in her care- animals that a 12 year old can properly take care of; however, she can not manage.
She takes completely improper care of her animals- I have yet to see a well taken care of animal from her or her facility.
She is a hoarder, 150%, her house is dirty, the animals are not taken care of properly, neither are the animals in her parents care.
She has nothing but negative reviews for someone who claims to be so "well connected".
She is very confused on what is her personal collection, what is a rescue, and what it means to be a rescue.
She is 100% a liar, as is her mother, they are also very vicious people with a huge ego and in need of an attitude adjustment.
After the second phone call threatening me, and my conversation with the sheriff I decided to compile all of the information I had. Her mother said and I quote "she may not have money, but I do, and I will file suit against you". I have taken this threat extremely seriously- as I have taken the threats sent to other members of the forum. I have openly said to Leah and her Mother- if you contact me, my business or my family again I will pursue full legal action against her and her rescue, and her mother and her rescue. Anyone getting any harassment from her is welcome to contact me directly for further information on what exactly is going on and the specifics of things.
