Back in December I posted about a seller I had bought from that had been busted big-time by the Houston SPCA. She had over 400 animals taken from her property, mostly various poultry, and some dogs and cats. Her place was horrible, and she had even tried to buy from me once, and got mad when I wouldn't sell to her. We had cross words on the old BYC forum when she made a private dispute public, and was repremanded there. Since then, I have not spoken with her or had any contact with her. I had entertained then contacting the SPCA, but did not. I figured time would catch up with her and her neighbors would take care of it. Obviously, I was correct in this assumption. It came to my attention the other day that she was back on eBay selling eggs, not but a month after getting all her animals taken away from her. I was floored. I thought about opting to keep my mouth shut again, but the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. Not only is she selling eggs and claiming them to be something she does NOT have (I bought eggs, I so I know personally), but if the SPCA feels she shouldn't have any animals, why does she have more, and in such a short amount of time? She's making claims in her auction that she sold eggs to a guy from Israel and that he carried them home on an airplane and hatched them. I have my doubts about this, but who knows. Stranger things have happened. My points of contention are this -- she's falsely advertising about eggs that are a rare breed and people are jumping at the chance to get, and she knows this, so she's more motivated by money than quality, AND she's told me herself that she's a hatchaholic, that she hates to see any eggs go to waste, so she's got a serious problem with self-control in that department, which in the end, her birds suffer for. She is a woman who needs help, has gotten into trouble for her addiction, and is not taking heed of this and facing her problem even though she's already lost everything. I finally made the decision and called the SPCA today to say that I didn't know if she was supposed to be doing it or not, but that she was selling eggs again, and kind of gave her a brief backstory on my involvement with her. She immediately knew who I was talking about, and sounded surprised at what she was doing. She said that an investigator would be calling me at some point, so I expect to hear from someone in the next few days. I don't like messing in other people's business and usually don't, and there's more involved here other than what I've gone into. I just feel it's in everyone's best interest, including hers, that she be put out of business.
Ahhhh....you did the right thing. I know exactly who you are talking about to. I hope they can put a stop to her.
You did the right thing. Hoarders can't seem to help themselves and the animals suffer accordingly. However, knowing she was on the other forum, she may be a lurker here and I'm not sure if you should put out the info about turning her in. You just never know what people may do.
Way to go Bliss! We adopted 10 chickens from the Houston SPCA just this past November. They are all doing great and asked them to keep us on their list if any others become available. After reading your post - Sounds like there might be more to adopt in the near future...maybe from the hatchoholic.
You most definitely did the right thing! I don't like to get involved in others' business either; however, when there are DEFENSELESS animals invovled, someone needs to get invovlved! KUDOS to you! I'm sure it was a very hard decision, but those buyers and the animals she shouldn't have will thank you!
THANK YOU!!! Way too many people are silent about things like this and you are definately making a difference in the chickens lives and those who are going to be blessed with their presence when adopted out. YOU ROCK, MY FRIEND! ETA: There is a person who is no longer on here (was back when I had a different name on here) and she was doing the same thing. The AC officers had been out to her house several times and she was BRAGGING about it. She had chickens in the little 12"x12" bird cages. I saw TWO standards crammed in one. It was awful and filthy and she said she had chicken breeds she didn't PLUS all the other animals she was breedign there. It was awful.
See, I don't understand why some people make a game out of it, like it's fun to match wits with law enforcement to see how far you can go to get away with something. I just don't get it. Why put yourself in further jeopardy when you're already in trouble? Mom, I'm not real concerned about it, judging from my last encounter, but thanks for thinking about me. Patches -- I'm glad to know someone on this forum has adopted some. I was just watching Animal Cops Houston the other day where a guy adopted a bunch of modern game hens from a seizure near Corpus. You know those were top dollar breeding stock! They were really nice birds. At least when you adopt from them, you know they'll be healthy.
I often wonder of people's claims when they are selling eggs. I expect there are many out there that wouldn't know one chick from another. Myself included! Then there is that whole "from great stock". The judge of any kind of chicken is pretty subjective. When we know something is being done wrong, and do nothing, we are wrong aswell. Good job snitch.