View Full Version : Email from US Global Exotics


Larry
01-14-2010, 08:27 PM
Dear friends and colleagues of the pet industry,

Before continuing, I know you are all busy trying to make ends meet and
get through your busy day. I know you may look at this email and say "
oh it is too long to read now, I'll read it later" HOWEVER I URGE you to
not lose concentration at this moment in time as what I am about to tell
you is so CRITICAL to your future, you simply do not want to ignore what
I have to say. Please read on.

As you are probably all aware US Global Exotics Inc was raided on
December 15th 2009 by the city of Arlington with the direct assistance
of PETA. Our company was infiltrated by one of their people for almost 8
months and over this period of time (and no doubt many months prior in
the form of their support staff); began to formulate a case and plan to
put me, my family and my employees out of business.

Their timing was no coincidence as they focused on their goal to
heighten their media exposure by stepping up their assault on our
industry and our way of life. They do this right around the same time
they are formulating bills in congress to put a stop to our industry in
general with the likes of bills S373 and S669. You don't think "the
largest animal seizure in US history" has not got the politicial ears in
Washington poised to hear what our adversaries have to say?

At this moment in time we have had a ruling by a city judge that ALL
27000 animals were treated cruelly and have as a result been given to
various "humane" groups for care until the appeal process is complete.
Although I do not want to spend this email going over the case and the
shocking details of what this all means, a very important link you
should visit soon to get familiar with our side of the story and the
DEEP repercussions is detailed below:

PJBoosinger.com <http://pjboosinger.viviti.com/>

Many would have heard all the one sided opinions reported by the media
and the slanted story that simply leaves out almost all of the facts.
Some of you may be wondering what really happened. Sensationalism is all
the media seems to care for now which helps them sell advertising and
generate profits however our time has now come to start telling our side
of the story.

THIS IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP!

We have today set up an account that is driven using Paypal that is
designed to help fund a defense for our case. The process to defend and
appeal is expensive and right now we need the ENTIRE industry's input
into this cause. Together with this mail is the blog and link from
independent organizations who are 100% behind our fight. They will
manage the fund for this fight and work to set up a permanent donating
fund to help defend these types of cases in the future.

Love us, like us or hate us, believe me; this case is more about our
industry as a whole rather than about US Global Exotics individual fight
however the first real battle for our survival and YOURS starts right
here and right now!

Our industry is under REAL assault and has been for many years prior.
Extremist groups such as PETA have for too long gone in and turned
people's lives upside down without too much difficulty. Somehow they get
local government behind them (donations of large amounts at
opportunistic times seems to be an effective and preferred way just
recently) so they have quick and unrelenting power. Because of fear and
lack of financial resources, most victims targeted walk away from all
their years of hard work feeling thankful that they ("the humane ones")
only stopped at taking their livelihoods and all they ever worked and
dreamed of and not also their freedom.

As you read this email you are going to have to dig deep into your heart
and soul and decide whether or not you want to see this industry survive
or be taken down by a group of people who have completely different
values than we do. This fight has come to the front lines because, if
they can do this to me and my family, not one person in our industry is
safe. If our caging, our methods, our facility, and our husbandry are
considered cruel, don't be surprised if you and your business are next!
For those people who actually got to see our facility will tell you we
had one of the best. These are not my words but words of many over the
years who have visited.
Based on this fact and based on the fact we followed industry guidelines
(which the judge acknowledged in his ruling and which he decided was
insufficient) that are proven methods of good husbandry practice, the
end is VERY near if this case if not fought and won. We spent more than
$200000 in professional caging and equipment and did not spare the cost
of getting the best of the best. We simply wanted to run a good live
animal wholesale operation.

For those not directly involved in the pet industry but got this mail
from friends or family asking for your support, don't think this
movement ends here. There is a fundamental war of ideology going on
right now that is about to explode as these radical groups get more
traction. Every win gives them more funding and more courage to take it
to the next level. Targets now such as pet exotic animals may seem
inconsequential to many however the use of animals in general at all
levels of human life is on their radar for destruction.

Today and tomorrow we need a commitment. I am offering you mine to fight
not only for myself but for you and our industry as well. The problem is
I cannot do it alone.

Don't put off going to the link to donate. Don't say I'll do it later
because you probably won't. Don't say you can't spare something because
right now you cannot afford not to spare something. Give as much as you
can. If your company had a good day, week or year so far, give
accordingly. If things are tight, just dig as deep as you can and give
what you are able. The key is PLEASE GIVE at http://aodefense.viviti.com
<http://aodefense.viviti.com/> .

This could be a turning point for us all or just another large nail in
the coffin for our industry. Which one it becomes is now in your hands
together with every other friend and colleague on this broadcast.
If you believe in this cause then do not stop with your own donation.
Get the word out to your family and friends and explain to them that
this will affect you therefore you need their help too! Tell your
customers and encourage them to donate too.
This is a case of numbers donating something, not a case of a few
donating large lump sums (although that is encouraged too!).

I want to thank you for reading this right through and for taking this
as seriously as it needs to be taken. I will be sending you updates as
things progress and doing my best to help keep our industry a thing of
the future and not a thing of the past.

Thanks for your support.

Best regards
Jasen and Vanessa Shaw
US Global Exotics Inc.


With PETA involved and the media sensationalism, it wouldn't surprise me one bit, if the whole thing was a planned attack on this industry..

Wild Bill
01-14-2010, 08:35 PM
PETA worker there for 8 months, damn right it was a planned attack. I'm sure as the raid got closer he sabotaged as much as he could too.

norsmis
01-14-2010, 08:35 PM
I have to agree Larry but I am torn on this topic because of who it is and what they do. This is one of the biggest flippers in the industry but I also understand it a full frontal assault on our hobby and could mean very bad things for all of us if it isnt fought. I do find it hard to donate to a cause that will keep businesses like this going..... Man this is a tough one..... :dunno:

xanaxez
01-14-2010, 08:39 PM
Can someone please explain this a little better to me? i just cant see how everyone donating to them to help them fight to get there animals back... is going to help us against the bills that are in senate. even if they win and get there animals back... thats not doing anything to help the fight against the reptile bans IMO. maybe i'm just not comprehending what is being said but it just looks to me like an excuse to use the bills at hand..to get donations to fight to get there stock back.

norsmis
01-14-2010, 08:43 PM
Can someone please explain this a little better to me? i just cant see how everyone donating to them to help them fight to get there animals back... is going to help us against the bills that are in senate. even if they win and get there animals back... thats not doing anything to help the fight against the reptile bans IMO. maybe i'm just not comprehending what is being said but it just looks to me like an excuse to use the bills at hand..to get donations to fight to get there stock back.

that is where my problem lies. I know what PETA did is bs and I know they probably did sabotage their business.... but you are right about it not helping fight those bills.... BUT.... It will help people understand we wont roll over and take their bs anymore. This entire thing has thrown the reptile trade/hobby/industry in a bad light......

I am still torn..... :dunno:

Larry
01-14-2010, 08:45 PM
I have to agree Larry but I am torn on this topic because of who it is and what they do. This is one of the biggest flippers in the industry

My thinking is, I'd believe a flipper over PETA and the media any day of the week..

Larry
01-14-2010, 08:46 PM
Can someone please explain this a little better to me? i just cant see how everyone donating to them to help them fight to get there animals back... is going to help us against the bills that are in senate. even if they win and get there animals back... thats not doing anything to help the fight against the reptile bans IMO. maybe i'm just not comprehending what is being said but it just looks to me like an excuse to use the bills at hand..to get donations to fight to get there stock back.

I will stick to donating my money/time to USARK..

2kdime
01-14-2010, 08:48 PM
They want money to help bail their animals out and to help fight the case?

Kind of torn on this as well.

I agree Larry, that's why I am torn.

But then again, wasn't there some outbreak of a so called "Monkey Pox" there too?

That MAY be an indicator to their husbandry and maybe they deserved it

Still a tough call

xanaxez
01-14-2010, 08:49 PM
that is where my problem lies. I know what PETA did is bs and I know they probably did sabotage their business.... but you are right about it not helping fight those bills.... BUT.... It will help people understand we wont roll over and take their bs anymore. This entire thing has thrown the reptile trade/hobby/industry in a bad light......

I am still torn..... :dunno:

In some instance i agree... i just cant bring myself to wanting to donate to put a flipper back into business. we fight to get them out of our hobby and then one wants up to donate to them? i think i'll pass on putting a flipper back into business. i'll take my chance of fighting the goverment and donating to USARK.

2kdime
01-14-2010, 08:49 PM
I believe that is who will be doing the most good with it.




I will stick to donating my money/time to USARK..

norsmis
01-14-2010, 08:51 PM
My thinking is, I'd believe a flipper over PETA and the media any day of the week..

I will stick to donating my money/time to USARK..

I agree on both accounts bro.... :yessir:

xanaxez
01-14-2010, 08:53 PM
I will stick to donating my money/time to USARK..

Exactly how i feel .

Larry
01-14-2010, 08:55 PM
By posting that email, I wasn't in ayway suggesting anyone donate to their legal fund. It was just to show the side of PETA and the media sensationalism that Global Exotics claims and at the end of the day, I would believe their story, over PETA and the media.

That doesn't mean I agree with their business practices because I don't..

xanaxez
01-14-2010, 09:06 PM
By posting that email, I wasn't in ayway suggesting anyone donate to their legal fund. It was just to show the side of PETA and the media sensationalism that Global Exotics claims and at the end of the day, I would believe their story, over PETA and the media.

That doesn't mean I agree with their business practices because I don't..

I agree and We know you don't Boss lol.

m00kfu
01-14-2010, 09:37 PM
Based on this fact and based on the fact we followed industry guidelines
(which the judge acknowledged in his ruling and which he decided was
insufficient) that are proven methods of good husbandry practice

That right there is what I find to be scary. Depending on what exactly the industry guidelines they followed and were decided insufficient, this could potentially set a precedent against the way we do things. Just imagine the fallout if the judge ruled that the use of racks was inhumane...

On the other hand, setting up an organization like he's talking about to help fund defense costs for breeders/keepers isn't necessarily a bad idea. Something like the EFF (http://www.eff.org/), kind of like a USARK with defense attorneys, could really help us out if things keep going the way they are.

Then again, maybe I'm just crazy. :dunno:

JChandler
01-14-2010, 09:46 PM
Industry guidelines 98% of the time are past practice, such as what the USDA views as the standard for floor space for a hamster isn't the same as an over crowded tank of mice because it has been argued that that is how they live and breed, etc....not right all the time but I suspect that is the case.

If they are going up against PETA they better work on proving sabotage by the informant they had working for them because all of us donating money isn't going to be enough....

I will stick with giving my money to fight our cause with the government, sad thing down there but this stuff didn't happen overnight and it was overlooked by someone who was in charge of the PETA worker.

USARK.Jonathan.Brady
01-14-2010, 11:07 PM
This post is my thoughts, and is NOT a reflection of USARK's position on this tragedy.

this stuff didn't happen overnight and it was overlooked by someone who was in charge of the PETA worker.

This was what was going through my head during every single word I read on this thread (no, I didn't mean to rhyme those three words). I think the quote above is the single most important sentence in this entire thread.

Having been an employee, and a manager, I can tell you that if the PETA worker was sabotaging their facility as much as they claim, the management there needs extensive education in business management as well as animal wellfare. Management should have fired him about 7 months and 29 days ago. This didn't happen overnight and it was ignored and overlooked for quite some time.

I don't think they deserve what they're going to get, but they deserve something. It's a shame that our industry is going to suffer a MAJOR black eye from this horrible publicity stunt.

jb

***AGAIN, these are my thoughts, not USARK's***

Desert
01-15-2010, 05:19 PM
My opinion is, logic (including Jasen's attempt in his missive above) that links Jasen's operation with "our industry" is flawed. He and his operation is not a component of "our industry" because a bottom feeding exporter like Jasen is fundamentally a very different entity than someone who produces and markets their own quality captive bred animals. Jasen deals in trash he exports trash he has a horrible reputation and everyone knows it; thus it is no surprise what was found in his building. Handwringing because one of these guys runs into rough bubbles appears a bit silly to me. I say good riddance.

snakemaster
01-15-2010, 06:15 PM
If you are stupid enough to hire PETA suffer the consequences. There is a reason for background checks, references.

BryGuy
01-15-2010, 06:43 PM
Help defend me with you $ or lose your hobby? BS meter went off the scale.

His best defense is negligent management? Good luck with that.

FRoberts
01-17-2010, 10:04 AM
I agree on both accounts bro.... :yessir:

same here, put all monies toward USARK. But it is more then obvious many things like this arise when legislation is pending.

Howard Redding
01-17-2010, 11:14 AM
yeah, i cant say that i would/will support that industry. we have to hold ourselves to higher standards. i would like to think that if any agency walked into anyones facility on this sight they would say...you're a nutso for keeping this many reptiles but, they are very well taken care of. these are animals and lives not just $$$$. my time and $$$$ is going to USARK and the caretaking of my collection.