http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20090115/NEWS01/901150310

Segments of the article:

>VINELAND -- A phony, cross-dressing veterinarian might have duped
>dozens of pet owners throughout South Jersey and beyond
>...
>To exotic-pet lovers in the area, Dr. Danielle Smith was a
>knowledgeable, caring veterinarian who made house calls, gave pet
>inoculations and also operated an animal rescue
>...
>But authorities say Smith is really a 32-year-old alleged con man
>named Daniel C. Tyce, who dressed as a woman and possibly scammed pet
>lovers across the region out of thousands of dollars, even putting
>phony collection cans -- for a rescue that didn't exist -- in area
>stores.
>
>Police learned of Tyce's phony animal rescue and bogus veterinary
>business after a Vineland woman who had used his services for her pets
>alerted them, according to Vineland police Detective Lt. Thomas
>Ulrich.
>
>Vineland police arrested Tyce on Friday
>...
>For about two years, Tyce and another man ran a business called "South
>Jersey Small Animal Rescue," which Tyce claimed was a nonprofit.
>Authorities said the business actually was not a registered nonprofit,
>nor was it an above-board operation.
>
>Through the Web site, Tyce solicited donations and offered "rescued"
>reptiles, ferrets, birds and other animals for adoption.
>
>... Tyce, posing as Smith, dressed in women's clothing and sometimes
>wore an official-looking police-style uniform complete with a badge,
>handcuffs, pepper spray and a police baton, according to police and
>the woman who turned Tyce in. He also drove a white Jeep Cherokee
>with "Animal Cruelty Investigations" printed on the side.
>...
>Vineland police and officers from the state Division of Fish and
>Wildlife served a search warrant at Tyce's apartment in Atlantic
>City -- where his phony business apparently was based -- last week,
>Ulrich said. There, they found no animals, but seized computer
>equipment, he said.
>
>... Cappellucci said she now believes Tyce actually sold on Craigslist
>the animals he "rescued" posing as Smith.
>...
>Cappellucci started having her own doubts about "Smith" and did
>some sleuthing of her own. She learned "Smith" was not a licensed
>veterinarian.
>
>Cappellucci contacted Vineland police Dec. 24...

There is a LOT more in the article

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html

[Posted in FML 6215]