Slither Files the Samson Pruitt Animal Abuse Story | Reptiles With Podcast S04EP41 (REPTILE PODCAST)

[@iino07]

This whole situation is so far beyond disgusting. Flat out animal abuse and incompetence, putting so much pressure on the staff that worked there too!

[@emariexotic]

And Cass is absolutely fine. She’s still making content and holding cats and retics. It’s all BS. She lived in a room next to a dead animal in a cage. Far from innocent.

[@ModernReptile]

I believe her social is back up. Has there been any negativity on her pages?

[@emariexotic]

@@ModernReptile no cause she unfollowed everyone and deletes all the bad comments.

[@turtlejeepjen314]

She 100% is knowledgeable of the animal abuse & neglect, & did nothing nor reported anything. (She could have done so anonymously, if she truly CARED about the lives of animals.)

[@_Kensexotics]

Yea she Blocks and deletes anyone who speaks on her wrong doings. I posted comments from 2 separate pages im blocked on both. sad part is i followed and supported her for about a year and when i found out my heart set fire… I was so disgusted and still am. 🤮🤮🤮😒

[@CosmiqueRays]

Might be heroine

[@coryblowes1438]

You guys are right and I just got in this hobby and I cried when seeing the pictures how do you let that get that bad I can’t believe it poor animals they need to take them all away from him

[@ModernReptile]

It is indeed sad. I understand the death that comes in the industry, but this looks rough

[@coryblowes1438]

@@ModernReptile I couldn’t watch it all I started to cry after 3 pictures sad to see them going through that crap hurt my heart big time

[@nathanrupley]

This is why I stay on the edge of herpetoculture. Not because of people like Samson, but because of all the "good guys" that look the other way.

[@ModernReptile]

It's a tough one for sure

[@thewildfloridians]

That’s always the case

[@mollymarshall5710]

Hear hear

[@lunarminx]

Those that knew and looked away are just as guilty in my opinion. I'm 57 years old and as a teen I reported what I thought was child abuse. I heard slap, screaming, slap, screaming, the little girl was 3 years old and being potty trained in the worse possible way by fear. I honestly thought she was being beat and I have no regrets. Better to report and be wrong over not reporting and contributing to the horror of abuse. Those animals/reptiles deserved to have someone care enough to not worry about mistakes.

[@Heavens-Humanaterian-Army]

​​@@lunarminx absolutely not true...you can distroy a family with false accusations...I now have severe ptsd from anyone knocking on my door after cops came lights sirens bashing on my door over a false accusation...I'm now a prisoner in my own home and terrafyded of my neibours and yet can't move...get your facts right first..go knock on the door and investigate first.

[@Dna_Geckos]

Samson is a monster, anyone that supports him or apologizes to him to calling him out is questionable at best usark or not. you cant apologize to a monster and stand up for him unless you are a complete fool or hiding something. why would you post a recent apology after a monster told you to or else. I really hope for the best but some people are masters of manipulation and deceit

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you for the feedback

[@thewildfloridians]

maybe you are right maybe you are wrong we will see with time 👀

[@turtlejeepjen314]

So true!!

[@jennandthegiantpeach]

Coming from a woman’s point of view who loves reptiles I don’t see the woman being as clean as you all were insinuating. I know you all were being kind about her because she probably is very well a victim as well in the relationship but in relation to the animals I think she is just as guilty. If my partner has a business and I am also gaining popularity and profiting off this business I am taking my time to check on the welfare of the animals, unless my health has me completely bed ridden, which with her still making content I doubt she is. She might be a victim in the relationship but she should be held just as accountable as he is for the state of those reptiles.

[@ModernReptile]

We appreciate your perspective and feedback, thank you!

[@jennandthegiantpeach]

@@ModernReptile great discussion and breakdown, I hope that guy ends up having more repercussions than just losing his business.

[@victoriasimmons9469]

I agree too. She should be held as an accomplice.

[@turtlejeepjen314]

I completely agree, & was going to say the same thing!!!🐢

[@CosmiqueRays]

Not the nose sniffles straight into the mic

[@ModernReptile]

😬we’re sneezy boys

[@iggiotto]

It was nice seeing you at ReptiCon! I’m a real person! Hopefully you can get some influential people in the community on your podcast soon. The talks about Garrett concern me because he vouches for USARK (he made their KZbin channel) and people vouch for Garrett. If it comes out that he’s been doing shady stuff he more than Samson has the potential to harm public perception of the community. Let’s see how this unfolds…

[@ModernReptile]

I personally do not know Garrett, he seems like an alright guy. I also don't think Chuck was attacking him more than trying to figure out what exactly is going on here with the silence. Then again, I can't speak for Chuck lol. Let's indeed see how this unfolds and maybe we can reconvene on the topic in the next few weeks

[@thewildfloridians]

That was exactly what I meant!

[@Honestcitizennnnnn]

This year has been pretty crispy with all the drama going on. Another great podcast as always gentlemen 👌🏻

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you 🙏 much appreciated

[@thewildfloridians]

Thank you!

[@mollymarshall5710]

The terrible thing is those pictures are about a year old, think how many more have died while people sat on this info. Makes me sick.

[@ModernReptile]

That’s unfortunate 😔

[@turtlejeepjen314]

It is SO SAD!!😥

[@WickensWickedReptiles]

The shit talking on Garrett is WILD! The dude isn't PART of the USARK KZbin page, HE IS The USARK KZbin account! He started it, donates his time and money to make those videos and try to gain a larger presence on the platform for USARK to legitimize USARK further. Of all the good guys in this industry with the best morals and BEST animal care. Garrett is at the top. A witch hunt. Silly Goosery.

[@nathanrupley]

If you give animals to a known animal abuser, who cares what organization you help? Stop kissing up to these people

[@iggiotto]

It would be really bad, not just for Garrett, but the community as a whole if he were caught slipping. Hopefully we’ll hear from him soon

[@tipping_scales]

​​@@nathanrupley everyone has done business with Samson. Where do you think his 1500+ snakes sold a year go? Those same people are all saying (including Lucas) that they did do buisness or trades or whatever, and that they never would again now that they know for sure what they know. Garrett just said anyone who abuses animals, including Samson, should be in prison. I was on the phone with Garrett for over an hour after this because I was just as suspicious after getting all the context. Turns out I didn't have all the context after all. He may or may not speak on it again but the reason he hasn't is because every time he opens his mouth the people (or person really) who is obsessed with him puts out another hour long insane sounding rant about why he hates him and alleges things that I know for a fact are nonsense. ROR is one of the most transparent companies I've looked into. You can tour their facility any time. Garrett makes himself available to speak to personally, and he owned up to sending Samson snakes before he realized what was actually going on. If you disbelieve that then you have to disbelieve everyone, including Lucas, who was largely responsible of compiling all the evidence against Samson. And Samson did threaten him. Just having civil conversations with Samson or giving him advice could be construed as supporting him at this point. Obviously Samson wants to paint a picture that Garrett is on his side. He would've done that with the calls and messages but he didn't have to because he coerced Garrett into doing it for him with his apology. There was no win in that situation. Thinking ROR has anything to do with supporting animal abuse is ludacris and plays directly into what Samson wanted to begin with. I'm doing a video on all of this and will be including some of what Garrett told me with his permission. Do the research for yourself and don't believe everything the folks with vendettas have to say

[@nathanrupley]

@@tipping_scales I don't believe everything people say about Garrett, but I know he has no problem with animal abuse. Have you ever seen the video where he tours Freedom Breeder? They show him a ball python stuffed in a rack so small that it is bent in half and touching both sides of the container. He carries on as if there is no problem at all. The guy is great at promoting himself, but he doesn't care about animals

[@nathanrupley]

Also, Wickens Wicked Reptiles has a history of defending the worst people in the industry. He claims that NERD is a company people should look up to.

[@aefoundry]

"The Man" is Lucas from LAB exotics he is the one that helped Rodney & Darrien get all the info, He can get you a real timeline on how everything went down. Have him on the podcast!

[@thewildfloridians]

That would actually be VERY cool!

[@aefoundry]

Yea just spoke with him and he said reach out any time he would love to talk with you guys!

[@ModernReptile]

@@aefoundryhell yeah

[@lanedj801]

I can understand the position of Garrett as he is the face of an organization that is trying to protect reptile keepers and also breeds retics. Maybe Samson is a garbage person but by giving into the feud and quarreling it can take away from the steam that ark has as a driving force to keep rights. The neglect of animals is a sad side effect of a legal right. Like owning a gun and leaving it accessible to minors. You can’t control the acts of those that abuse the rights. I honestly think that bad keepers should have to answer to abuse/neglect especially when it’s a continuous leaking reputation that is constantly trying to cover its tracks. It’s a frustrating situation and if I was Garrett I would definitely distance myself from the “big snake” complex guys that drag him down with them. I would more so judge him on his personal animals. But yes an apology to Samson doesn’t exactly look good. I think he’s just trying to keep usark in good faith because he genuinely cares about the rights of keepers and he is a driving force for pushing out content. But as a retic keeper he is easily attacked.

[@ModernReptile]

It’s a tough situation. Thank you for your feedback

[@thewildfloridians]

We do not have a “right” to keep exotic animals. It is more of a privilege that CAN & has been taken away over & over again. As a Floridian seeing the effects of the pet trade in our ecosystem & how it all backfires when legislation comes. I have to say that USARK & USARKFL both have to keep the standards of the industry high. These things are what are drowning the industry. People keeping animals in less than minimal conditions. Business over keeping animals. The largest snake in the world kept in drawer like cages. I keep my underwear in bigger drawers than the ones many breeders keep their snakes. Because they stay quiet in situations like this is why this industry keeps falling little by little.

[@TheCoryAyers]

It’s amazing how great y’all hindsight is regarding Garret. You have some hearsay, no evidence, and you’ve already sentenced him. Judge, jury, execution without evidence. Maybe, just maybe, you don’t know what you don’t know. If you don’t have hard evidence, you’re assuming. At best.

[@ModernReptile]

The whole premise of the podcast is being three individuals in the reptile community discussing topics with our vastly varying opinions. During that we laugh and argue with each other. I believe I literally said "assuming that there's something". I even commented by saying "If its real" and followed with saying that Samson could very well be lying about his claims against Garrett. I can't speak for Chuck, but in my opinion he was mainly getting at someone needing to speak up about the situation.

[@thewildfloridians]

No full assumptions but theories can be made thats why Me & Tino kept saying they SHOULD come out & say something but the screenshots & silence are not helping. Yet I wont follow an organization not a person blind enough to not question the reality of a specific scenario without the evidence. I am not friends nor supporter of neither so my opinion is based on what is visible which as of right now are screenshots of Samson telling Garret what to do, an apology to the cockroach, & a whole lot of silence to the industry.

[@Smith.Tylerr]

I agree with everything you guys said! Amazing podcast, and very informative!

[@thewildfloridians]

Thank you for listening!

[@elysiumsnakefarm1185]

Garret is definitely heavily affiliated with USARK. He has handled this situation horribly, from giving into blackmail from Samson to not speaking up about the neglectful abuse. Rodney and Garrett go way back, according to Rodney. They have serious beef, and while Rodney isnt shy with his bias he has been putting out pretty substantial info, too. Apparently all the F1 SD breeders Garrett has been bragging about for years came from Rodney. Rodney claims the Snake Garrett traded to Samson came from Rodney and was kept/owned by a staff member for RoR. Allegedly, Garrett traded this snake to Samson out of pure hate for anything connected to Rodney. Except for the F1 breeders, it seems. (This is all alleged from Rodney's YT channel) Sad day for SD industry and USARK. But I personally will be supporting smaller Names in the SD hobby when I'm ready to start keeping them.

[@thewildfloridians]

Very sad to see the silence but, that is how the hobby usually works. We will see what the outcome will be if any.

[@thomaswicker5751]

​@@thewildfloridians an official statement from Reach Out Reptiles will be posted shortly.

[@turtlejeepjen314]

Animal abuse is never taken out of context.

[@jasonmccready1839]

Good morning Fellas

[@ModernReptile]

Mornin!

[@coryblowes1438]

You know right from wrong come on she is just as accountable

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you for your feedback!!

[@victoriasimmons9469]

She is an accomplice

[@thewildfloridians]

I can agree with that

[@dnaslitherscritters3244]

9:00 haha meanwhile ball pythons are crammed into cb70 or smaller

[@ModernReptile]

Great point. On one hand though, an exceptionally sized ball python can get maybe 6 feet and a cb70 is about 3 feet. They are primarily ground dwelling (not that they do not utilize branches or climb trees). Whereas retics that are known to climb caves and trees being kept in 6-8ft long enclosures when getting to ~20 feet. I am in no means a retic expert, or have seen the standards of retic keeping in person. I am not saying one style of keeping is better than the other, Im adding a little perspective.

[@dnaslitherscritters3244]

@@ModernReptile ball pythons live in holes in the ground even termite mounds most reticulated pythons snakes won’t be able to reach 20 ft. Mainland males will reach 8-14 MOST of the time And it’s pretty rare for a female to get bigger then 17 ft by the rule of a ball getting 6ft in a 3 ft cage it’s the same thing. Now as for the height yea they will do some climbing around as they go up in trees to pull birds out of the 🌌 sky and be up in ledges in caves to eat the bats 🦇. My hopes is when I get a mew facility to can build a couple 8x8x8 rooms for them. But I do let them roam the basement as I clean the cage.

[@thewildfloridians]

I agree with this lol.

[@Donreptiles514]

I love when tino says actually: 🤓🤓🤓

[@ModernReptile]

LOLOLOLOL

[@thewildfloridians]

😂😂😂

[@livingoutsidethebubble]

This truly reminds me of the tiger King scenario, he even looks like some of those characters. So dodgy. Also sexual harassment , abuse of employees etc. Gross Also no free pass for Cass, she rode the wave too. Husbandry in general needs attention, small drawers and tubs are vile in my opinion, even if they are clean. Kudos to Rodney and the employees who have come out. I also saw someone defending him - gross. Guilty by enabling that pig. The employee who was interviewed said she was chastised for hydrating a dehydrated monitor without his permission! FFs what a narcissist. The other one said there were 6 people at most for over 2000 animals. He should go back to jail and denied medical care of any kind. I can't sleep if I forget to change water in an enclosure - I don't get how people can treat living beings like this, evil sh*t. I can only hope that seeing those images causes a bunch of people to improve their care and enclosures, and rethink their plans. The only greatness he has is in his massive abdomen in my opinion.

[@ModernReptile]

Im curious as to how this all plays out

[@pavementeater5624]

@@ModernReptile If you don't include the reptile hobby and community. Not much is going to really happen to Pruit, due to where slither Inc is located... these are reptiles and some exotic pet trade animals and not livestock or domesticated animals. So due to the stigma and fear of reptiles most people have the public outcry will be minimal. The story will not be pulling anyone's heartstrings out there. If he was abusing or severely neglecting large exotic animals, livestock or domesticated animals then his world would be collapsing down on him. He would be in jail and already released on bail. I don't see him getting much time for any of what he has done and its due to how people perceive certain species of animals.

[@thewildfloridians]

@@pavementeater5624this is very true. The only way he can be affected is by hitting his pockets

[@toddbennett7157]

I can't really take these guys or their message very seriously with the amount of laughing/guffawing and bawdiness that they engage in. It can't be TOO important to them if they act this way . . . . .

[@thewildfloridians]

Then the podcast might not be for you then. There are 7.8 Billion people on this earth with different opinions & experiences in the world. There are many different ways to communicate what a person thinks or feels. I personally come from a very tough background & had to learn to be a little less emotional about things (not that it is a good thing) so I communicate that in this manner. I’m happy being this way even if it doesn’t make you happy.

[@toddbennett7157]

@@thewildfloridians Multitudes of dead, dying, and decomposing reptiles and other creatures due to severe neglect!!! "HAHAHAHAHAHA"!!! (sexual innuendo) "HILARIOUS!"

[@thewildfloridians]

@@toddbennett7157 Yeah hilarious & unbelievable that some people that this industry looks up to are like that. Hilarious that this is getting attention now but the neglect all around gets ignored. Hilarious that no matter how serious you talk about it NOTHING IS REALLY HAPPENING. We wanted to push this information in a different way. Everyone is just repeating the story over & over but why not change the way in which we tell a story? That is unique.What are YOU doing to make a difference? Leaving comments on how other people should communicate because that’s the way YOU want it? Are you pushing this information? Are you doing anything at all other than complaining?

[@toddbennett7157]

@@thewildfloridians Less than 2 minutes in, 6 "F-bombs" and an SH were dropped, an ejaculation reference and a fellatio suggestion were made, and any importance for animal welfare/husbandry got dwarfed in the process. You guys laughed nearly ALL THE WAY THROUGH IT. Perhaps Comedy Central is more your scene. Good luck & best wishes on your next gig . . . . . .

[@DanielPerez-yb9se]

@@toddbennett7157The podcast is 3 friends with different points of view having conversations. These conversations would happen this way with a podcast or without a podcast. This is how I communicate on a regular basis. No filter whatsoever. If you’ve been sheltered enough to not interact in this way good for you but, do they try & control the way others communicate & live their lives. Good bye good luck controlling someone else.

[@Grammyofboys]

I absolutely cannot stand snakes but that Samson is revolting. How is it that he still has animals? Why has animal welfare never shut him down? That is an absolute horror for those poor animals. 🤬🤬😪😪

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you for the feedback

[@susanmartin3762]

Cobra and some other breedspoop smells like Ramen noodles! I learned that from Chandler😂

[@turtlejeepjen314]

Bert called. He wants his Ernie back. *Samson = Ernie*

[@MenaceIIHerpciety-Banna]

The fact garret feels the need to “apologize” to sampson no matter what history they have speaks volumes. Why apologize to a piece of shit person? Even if he did throw him under the bus.. who cares? That’s suspicious 🤨 🤷‍♀️ if you haven’t listened to rodneys podcast about this garret and simpsons involvement go listen to it. Garret knew exactly what kind of person sampson was. Just my opinion 🙃🤷‍♀️

[@ModernReptile]

Thanks for your feedback

[@bigjohnreptiles1047]

As a Marine Biologist I have to say you aren't missing out on much lol. It has been known for years that Sampson was an animal abuser and all around piece of trash. I've seen some of those pictures years ago and am not even into retics at all or in any retic groups. Most people do not care as long as they get the animals they want for a "cheap" price. Not that long ago there was a couple that breed retics that are now in jail for life for child abuse and people defended them even after they were convicted. Surprise they also had horrible animal husbandry. There are a lot of these big name breeders that have shady husbandry and it is known but again people don't care as long as they get their animal. You can see this at any reptile expo always tables with half dead animals on them or visible mites yet the promoters allow them because they pay their table fee. Nothing is going to change when the majority of keepers and breeders see them as dollar signs or Pokemon (Gotta have them all) and not living breathing animals. On a more positive note so happy to hear that people are coming up to you talking about the podcast. I enjoy listening and feel you guys are one of the only ones that keep it real and aren't afraid to speak out against anyone.

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you!!!

[@rkj7798]

What expos have you seen near dead animals? I have been to over 20 expos and have never seen close to dead animals. Please don't generalize the whole community when the vast majority are doing it right. Take care

[@lunarminx]

So you knew what was going on and never said anything, you are just as responsible for those deaths as slither.

[@victoriasimmons9469]

I feel so bad for those poor snakes that are there. I wish they can rescue them out of there before they all die!😮😢🐍

[@thewildfloridians]

I wish there was a way but, if Im being honest I don’t see much happening at the moment.

[@susanmartin3762]

Yellow does not mean a banana is ripe. You need to see brown freckles on the peel is what you look for. Green is not good. All yellow with no spots.. not good. Yellow with freckles..GOOD!

[@elizabethhill8213]

Cass is not a victim!! She is 1 year older than his oldest son. She took up with him when he had a family at home doing without while he was carrying her to Victoria Secret. She knew what she was getting.

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you for your feedback!

[@eddiesanders3383]

All of the former employees coming out and putting everything on Samson, yet when they worked there none of them ever did anything but play on their phones. I went to his facility several times a couple years ago and never saw any of what the pics show. Were the cages too small in my opinion yes, did they need cleaning, definitely. And no this isn't defending him because neither him nor Cass ever did any cleaning either. But the same employees are just as much to Blame as him.. the 2 girls that have come out were also in a relationship with him and Cass and they didn't mind going to shows and strip clubs and raves and taking pics of them and posting them either. Plus his ex rainbow head T blast him yet still went to his facility before going to shows and was selling his retics as her own. So if you're gonna throw rocks....

[@eddiesanders3383]

And no this isn't a shot at you guys, I enjoyed the podcast and although I don't agree 💯 with everything ( and who does) I like that you were up front. The shot was at former employees and gfs trying to act like poor innocent me and they're not

[@thewildfloridians]

interesting point of view for sure. I can’t disagree really? I just don’t know where those people stood at that time nor have I looked into it. I think I have focused more on the animals now than the things that have already happened . I do understand your point though. Thank you for listening!

[@moreliahouse3085]

This episode is absolutely hilarious 😂

[@ModernReptile]

Thank you 🫡

[@brysonjohnson1837]

And you guys need to be more informed when you talk about things and not give half ass stories give all the story of this nasty abuse case not just parts and pieces

[@thewildfloridians]

What other details of the story? We just gave the basic parts of the story that involve the animals & details around the “main character “ that were necessary for anyone to understand. The rest can be found through research.

[@brysonjohnson1837]

You guys cover good topics but the three of you talking over each other is so annoying let each other speak

[@thewildfloridians]

I don’t agree nor disagree 😅 I think we do have to get better at it for sure

[@toddbennett7157]

You got THAT right!

[@dylanwicklund5129]

I've seen plenty of breeders post a picture of a dead snake that had hatched and then died or didn't fully hatch out and they're completely transparent about it I've been completely transparent about snakes that I've had that have died it does happen and the snakes that I've had died it's four of them I'm not counting the babies that did not make it out of the egg or died not even hours after coming out then it probably have about 10 but the snake said I got from somebody that we're just a couple months old they were eating completely fine shedding fine when in one week fed them came back a few days later to check on them like i do and id just find them dead and i have idea why but the breeders have always been super nice and gave me the same morph if not a combo one for free i always felt bad and still gave them a few 100 because didnt have to do that but they know its good for business and it did keep me coming back because not only were they super helpful very nice but also had wonderful animals at great prices

[@dylanwicklund5129]

Apparently Jay Breuer doesn't have a problem with it and he has a zoo that's the messed up part because people talk about how it smells bad and pictures come out showing a water bowl with like six dead mice in it rotting away there was hit animals the rotting away like super skinny about to die bunch of them had mites anx were constantly rubbing their faces against the cages and a whole lot more and this was what was on display in his zoo and Pet Shop for sale guaranteed that Green Tree Lizard that can remember the name right now is most likely dead along with the Pac-Man frog Savannah Monitor and a few other things I've ever shown in those pictures

[@mickyca63]

Speaking in a intelligent, well thought manner is uncomfortable for you - go back to school! Get an education and be able to converse on a level that would make it enjoyable to listen to. I made is to 9:53 minutes before I had heard enough swearing for the day. If it is truly just three guys getting together to talk and you don't mind the language, then don't put it on KZbin where you might get negative feedback.

[@ModernReptile]

Thanks for the extremely subjective feedback! None of us are conventional, and frankly what you’re asking for is extremely unauthentic. Not everything needs to be catered to your liking, there are thousands of pieces of content for you to enjoy. If you’re looking to laugh and get to know a tight group of friends that debates topics in the reptile hobby while having a good time. We are for you. But, if you can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. We are completely aware that we are not for everyone. That was never the goal. Speaking in an “intelligent” manner does not mean that the person speaking has knowledge. I would implore you to open your mind a bit and understand that people from all walks of life that are different than you can still offer you specs of perspective.

[@richardhincemon]

Joe Rogan wannabe 's 😅 pathetic 🙄

[@elizabethhill8213]

How’s he going to take care of these animals when he’s never taken care of his children? You just don’t know. Very selfish individual.

[@rkj7798]

You should really look into your own sponsors on the care of their animals. Imperial reptiles has alot of poor reviews in terms of animal welfare. Take care.

[@ModernReptile]

thanks for the comment! Where do you see " a lot of poor reviews " regarding the animal welfare? I see a 5.0 rating on morph market with 106 positive reviews and 2 negative

[@80sbabysballs77]

My ninja 🥷.. 🫡🫡🫡🫡💯💯💯💯💯

[@ModernReptile]

🫡