Be Warned!! Scott Micheals

Just got animals from Scott Micheals DMV. One of the animals showed up injured and he is going to do nothing about it.

The full tread in here: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...=1#post1279880

Id figure Id post it here because he posts ball pythons pretty regularly. This transaction was for pine snakes.

If you are blowing it out of proportion (which you are not) and he sold the others so fast then he should just take them back, let the injury heal (which shouldn't take long from what he thinks because he thinks its nothing) and resell them when they are healthy. But since he only strives for 99% of his customers to be happy I wouldn't count on him taking them back...

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Originally Posted by Boanerges

If you are blowing it out of proportion (which you are not) and he sold the others so fast then he should just take them back, let the injury heal (which shouldn't take long from what he thinks because he thinks its nothing) and resell them when they are healthy. But since he only strives for 99% of his customers to be happy I wouldn't count on him taking them back...

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i emailed him that exact message! if your a volume dealer, you should have no problem moving them. haven't heard back from him.

im not expecting much from this but its documented on the BOI.

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Originally Posted by Lucas339

Just got animals from Scott Micheals DMV. One of the animals showed up injured and he is going to do nothing about it.

The full tread in here: http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/foru...=1#post1279880

Id figure Id post it here because he posts ball pythons pretty regularly. This transaction was for pine snakes.

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Sorry he basicly ripped you off by selling you a damaged snake but thats why i avoid him when i attend the local reptile show.He is a total idiot that still thinks he is a vet.I wonder if he can get in trouble for "pretending" to still be licensed?

Man that really sucks. I'm sorry that you experienced that. I very much doubt that he'll make good on his guarantee. :mad:

You said you paid through PayPal, any chance you could get them to help you get your money back? I may be wrong, but I thought one of the advantages to using PayPal was buyer protection.

i'm pretty sure paypal does cover any sale thru them if you get screwed which you did unfortunately, sorry to hear about it i'll never buy from him thanks for the info

I know its illegal to practice medicine and or impersonate a doctor. Im sure that goes for Vets as well.

If he is calling himself a veterinarian (not that he used to be one but if he is actually stating as fact "I am a veterinarian") and giving you medical advice for that snake, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Its one thing if he says "The best advice I can give you is to use antibiotic ointment." but if he's saying "I'm a veterinarian and I recommend you use antibiotic ointment to treat the snake." he is giving medical advice and impersonating a medical professional. He may have been a veterinarian years ago, but if his license expired he is no longer allowed to claim he is a veterinarian and give medical advice while claiming to be such. Of course, he may only be able to get in trouble if he's actually PRACTICING veterinary medicine. As in physically treating your animal for a medical issue.

I'm sorry you are having such a bad experience. I hope it works out for you.

Hi,

Is he a member of this site and has he been made aware of this thread?


dr del

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

If he is calling himself a veterinarian (not that he used to be one but if he is actually stating as fact "I am a veterinarian") and giving you medical advice for that snake, I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Its one thing if he says "The best advice I can give you is to use antibiotic ointment." but if he's saying "I'm a veterinarian and I recommend you use antibiotic ointment to treat the snake." he is giving medical advice and impersonating a medical professional. He may have been a veterinarian years ago, but if his license expired he is no longer allowed to claim he is a veterinarian and give medical advice while claiming to be such. Of course, he may only be able to get in trouble if he's actually PRACTICING veterinary medicine. As in physically treating your animal for a medical issue.

I'm sorry you are having such a bad experience. I hope it works out for you.

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Well in his ads on kingsnake he does write several times that he is a vet and refers to himself as Dr Scott.Oh and he does give out medical info to people.Its sad that he can not practice his own advice on the animals he sells.

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,

Is he a member of this site and has he been made aware of this thread?


dr del

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he is not a member of this site. he is aware of the fauna thread.

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Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons

I know its illegal to practice medicine and or impersonate a doctor. Im sure that goes for Vets as well.

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It is illegal if he is administering medications (even to his own pets) without proper prescriptions from a licensed veterinarian or if he is giving out specific instructions on treating animals and claiming to be licensed by a proper veterinary medicine board. There have been cases in which dog breeders without proper licensing have administered their own medication and given "instructions" to buyers and have in turn been arrested and charged with "practicing veterinary medicine without a license".

If he is claiming to still be a licensed veterinarian, I'm sure he can get into some serious trouble.

Here is one of the most publicized cases of a "fake vet" being pursued by police:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...ate&id=7920070

I would report him to the local vet association without a second thought.

On the fauna thread ask him this one question. Put nothing else in the post other than this question. If he doesn't answer, copy and paste it a few times.

Are you, as of now, licensed to practice veterinary medicine?

Depending on his answer, or lack thereof, you have new avenues to pursue.

i started a paypal dispute and we have reached an agreement on them for a partial refund of the injured snake.

Basicly you had to call him out on Fauna and the initiate a Paypal dispute in order to get taken care of. Personally, I don't want to deal with a seller like that.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

On the fauna thread ask him this one question. Put nothing else in the post other than this question. If he doesn't answer, copy and paste it a few times.

Are you, as of now, licensed to practice veterinary medicine?

Depending on his answer, or lack thereof, you have new avenues to pursue.

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HA! I like it!

you said, "Supposedly, he is a VETERINARIAN which he made a point of saying many times during our converstation but I am unsure how a "vet" would miss something like this on an animal."

Every profession that requires you to hold a license to practice has a board you can file complaints to.. Even if the person is not legitimate and claims they are. Those are the ones they like to bust the most. ;)

(I hold a license to practice dental hygiene and our state board takes complaints very seriously. Vet medicine cannot be any different.)

Not to stir the pot but....

IL Veterinary Practice Laws - http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/s..._1_28.htm#sdef

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115/5. Acts by nonlicensed persons

§ 5. No person shall practice veterinary medicine and surgery in any of its branches without a valid license to do so. Any person not licensed under this Act who performs any of the functions described as the practice of veterinary medicine or surgery as defined in this Act, who announces to the public in any way an intention to practice veterinary medicine and surgery, who uses the title Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or the initials D.V.M. or V.M.D., or who opens an office, hospital, or clinic for such purposes is considered to have violated this Act and may be subject to all the penalties provided for such violations.

It shall be unlawful for any person who is not licensed in this State to provide veterinary medical services from any state to a client or patient in this State through telephonic, electronic, or other means, except where a bonafide veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists.

Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent members of other professions from performing functions for which they are duly licensed. Other professionals may not, however, hold themselves out or refer to themselves by any title or descriptions stating or implying that they are engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine or that they are licensed to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine.

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I'd find out first and foremost if he is licensed. You can probably make a few phone calls to find out.

Good to see you are at least getting a partial refund.


If anyone wants to search...it says his license is inactive. I don't know what that means but its interesting.
https://www.idfpr.com/dpr/licenselookup/default.asp

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Originally Posted by wilomn

On the fauna thread ask him this one question. Put nothing else in the post other than this question. If he doesn't answer, copy and paste it a few times.

Are you, as of now, licensed to practice veterinary medicine?

Depending on his answer, or lack thereof, you have new avenues to pursue.

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Well i asked this question and we will await his response

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Originally Posted by wilomn

On the fauna thread ask him this one question. Put nothing else in the post other than this question. If he doesn't answer, copy and paste it a few times.

Are you, as of now, licensed to practice veterinary medicine?

Depending on his answer, or lack thereof, you have new avenues to pursue.

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Wes, he's no longer a licensed vet - whether by choice or not I don't remember.

I have asked him in the past, and he has been very forthcoming in that while he has a doctorate in veterinary medicine and used to practice, he no longer does and let his license expire years ago.

I'm saddened to see that Lucas has had this issue with Scott. Regardless of whether or not he still practices or should be claiming to be a vet without being licensed, or whether or not the fact he has a doctorate in veterinary medicine should be cause for him to continue to use the DVM by his name, I have done business several times with Scott and have always enjoyed talking to and dealing with him. Most of the pits in my snake house have come from Scott and they were all shipped flawlessly and were immaculate animals.

Still, this thread is about Lucas and his experience with Scott, so I'll stop there. At this point all I can hope is that all is resolved to Lucas' satisfaction.

I am pretty satisfied with the outcome. however still worry for the animal in question. The prolapse is still there. I hope with treatment it will suck back in.