I do help with the HWS (Hedgehog Welfare Society) and have for the past 2 years.
The user Handoff, Renee Stastka, has contacted me and harassed me off this site as well by calling my landlord, work, and contacting other HWS members. Also I have many calls from her that took place at 2am and later.
The first story was she received a check from me buying her reptiles. I asked her to please give me the information off the check and or an image ao I could see what happened.
After asking for the image the second story was I stole her reptiles.
She then contacted me using multiple names and multiple email addresses through the rescue site needing to surrender 6 hedgehogs, 2 snakes, and I believe 3 beardies; having a hedgehog outside and not knowing what to do with it; attempting to adopt a hedgehog. I got so many stories from multiple emails. All of the emails from the same computer it appears.
The email she posted is a response (Im pretty sure the wording has been changed on some parts) for the surrender email of 6 hedgehogs, 2 snakes, and 3 bearded dragons. The only rescues we take in are hedgehogs and my roommate takes in turtles. Maybe it was a poor choice of wording to say that I am scared of most cold blooded animals, but unfortunately I am scared of snakes. (This is why I don't own any snakes) I told her I could not take in her snakes or beardies, but would gladly take in the hedgehogs. She then wanted my address to bring them to me. I don't openly share my address with the people that surrender rescues. It's just not a safe practice.
She seemed like an okay person that just needed a home for her pets and it sounded like she was really overwhelmed. I tried to find a reptile rescue within our area to no avail. I contacted a "sister" rescue to take in the 6 rescues once they were in my care since I had a full house of rescues at the time. All thinking this person really did need help. I replied telling her I was unable to find a rescue to take in the reptiles and I could take in the hedgehogs just to let me know when she would like to surrender them. I got no response.
Then the emails begin from Renee Stastka again. I had a friend look at many of the rescue emails and it is believed they all came from the same source. I don't know how he was able to tell this; I'm not that computer savy.
I told Renee Stastka through email I would like to keep our communications through emails for a record since phone calls are a little more difficult to keep a record of. She took this as an insult I assume.
As for the check, I wanted a copy because I previously had a roommate by the name of Kira. The girl packed up and moved out when I was out of town visiting family over a year ago. She stole many things and skipped out on our lease. I have had a check from a different account bounce and it had her signature on it.
If a copy of the check was provided then it would be believable, but it then was said I stole her reptiles. I refuse to deal with someone that slanders or libels my name. Part of me feels that Handoff, Renee Stastka, may be a friend of my old roommate and perhaps they are just "having fun" ruining my reputation.
I have told Renee Stastka to please take this to court if she doea in fact have a claim. It is on record that a previous check was written by my old roommate. I have contacted the courthouse and they have nothing on file in their office or from the sheriffs office as Renee Stastka claims.
As for my reptiles.. I have records of my sales, trades and purchases that can be provided to prove they are my reptiles. Some are in the form of email correspondence and some are actual receipts. I have told Handoff, Renee Stastka, that these can be given to authorities if they need them.
All she does is continue to slander and libel my name all over town and all over the web. A rescue friend of mine is now helping me try to file a claim against her in court for this.
What I don't understand is how do you sell reptiles to someone you don't know and take a check from them that's in a name othee than their name?
Any ideas, advice, or opinions are welcomed.. good or bad.