Sad that this happen to you but it can and sometime does one thing you might have learned from this is to keep your hobby on the down low and only share it with people you trust.

At our previous house I have never have mentioned snakes to any of my neighbors, not that I do anything illegal or nor do I care about what they might have think of me, it's just that I know that all it takes is one unhappy neighbor to cause problems and disrupt your life. Those types of neighbors will use anything that they learned from you or others against you if they feel the were wronged in some ways. (Similar situation in your case except it was with customer)

The only neighbor that actually knew about my snakes found out 2 weeks before we moved out and the funny thing is that since than she got into BP as well.

At our new house same things no one knows about the snakes or the rats.

Also keep in mind that is animal control comes and knock on your door you are in no obligation to let them in.