Theresa Desilets-Ink: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012778179251
Illegally withheld dog from owner for almost 30 days
Taken Jan 27, 2017 - Returned Feb 24, 2017
LEGAL REGISTRATIONS
Sunbiz
Theresa Ink, President
Florida Department of Agriculture: CH32121
IRS EIN: 94-3467822
TIMELINE
Jan 27, 2017 - Fred taken by Theresa Ink
Jan 30, 2017
Jan 31, 2017
Feb 1, 2017
Feb 2, 2017
Feb 5, 2017
Feb 24, 2017 - Fred reunited with Dave!!
ASSOCIATIONS
Theresa Ink former board member with Carrie Cagata of “My Best Friend” who was arrested and charged with 120 counts of animal cruelty.
NEWS STORIES
Lee County animal adoption center refuses to return dog to owner [video]
February 14, 2017
http://www.winknews.com/2017/02/14/lee-county-animal-adoption-center-refuses-to-return-dog-to-owner/
Lee County man to battle animal adoption center for dog [video]
February 15, 2017
FORT MYERS, Fla. A Lee County animal adoption center refused to return a dog to its owner after someone turned it in. Now, an attorney has offered to help the owner get his dog back.
GoFundMe - Bring Fred the Dog Home
Elyse Nancy Berman, friend of Dave the owner, is who started the GFM
FACEBOOK POSTS
WINK FB thread
Ana Campos The friend of the owner confirmed by phone that yes she had a problem with him having cancer and they, the owner and her and their side believe she is anti gay. The friend told me there are a lot of people contacting her or them that live there who are very upset. Said more stuff coming out. That Theresa was wealthy and bought that building and that there is no vet really there. That certain people believe she's doing procedures and she's claimed to be a vet. Weird stuff like that. Previous owner adopter is willing to testify about her doing a procedure in their pet herself and the dog got sick. I need to clarify that one. But she said that's what a lot of people think is happening.
Ana Campos Theresa also seems to be psychotic. Like she said the dog was locked in a car and she had to go rescue the dog and break the window. So they got the surveillance out to show her it's not true. Then she changed her mind. The guy adopted another dog from her Peanut from Louisiana floods. She brought In those dogs. She told him she has no idea what he's talking about and that Peanut was not adopted to him from her. Again he has the contract and Paperwork.
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Ana Campos I spoke to Elise the friend of Dave the owner just now. She said he had chemo therapy treatment today and is feeling very down. I gave her an attorney name that was given to me. They are filing a report with the police for fraud since the Theresa Ink of PPaws Leecountylied and said they were the owner. Also for theft since she said they were returning him and then didn't. They sold him to someone else who called the chip company and tried to change the chip info. The chip company called him and told him. He refused to allow it. So out there is a new owner who knows there is a problem. All that is fraud, theft and trafficking in stolen property.
The rescue did say they don't like him having this many chemo treatments and it's believed she does have a problem with him being gay and in a gay bar. That's what even they believe and discriminating against this man for having cancer or being gay is horrific.
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Ana Campos Is anyone familiar with PetTrac? This chip company received a call from the new owners of Fred trying to switch the chip info to them. Then they wouldn't disclose who they were to the owner of the chip.
Ana Campos I spoke to the chip company and told them the dog was stolen and who tried to change it?
It was Theresa Ink of PAWS that tried to change the chip info on Jan 30 at 9:53am.
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Ana Campos Hi XXX
I see that you are on the Board of Directors for PAWS Lee County. Im not sure if you are aware of this viral video doing the rounds??
I'd like for you to please intervene. This man has cancer and it appears as though Theresa Ink
committed fraud when she pretended to be the owner of his lost dog. She said she would return Fred and then sold him. She specifically said she doesn't approve of the disabled owner with cancer having several chemo treatments. He purchased the dog in September and there is a bill of sale. When you find lost property in Florida you have to return it or it is considered grand theft and then conversion.
People are boycotting PAWS and not donating to a organization who pretty much is discriminating against a gay man that has cancer and was in a gay bar. I believe there will be a protest tomorrow. I'm pretty sure the police and an attorney will be involved this week for theft of this dog.
Do you have any comments and would you be willing to negotiate the return if this dog? I would love to see a happy ending and this organization do the right thing by this poor man.
The news is doing a follow up story and it would be great to resolve this amicably.
Please let me know.
Thank you so much!!
Ana Campos Response from one and my response.:
Hello Ana. Your email was the first I heard of this situation. While I am a board member, I serve the group in an advisory capaity. Theresa Ink is the driving force behind it. I have known her for 20 years and I can tell you that her motivation is always to ensure that the animals get the best care possible. I spoke to her and she said that this man did not fulfill the terms of the contract and was extremely abusive to her. She does not care whether someone is gay or straight -- I know this because we have mutual close friends who are gay. She didn't even know the bar was a gay club. That isn't the problem here. I am telling you this for background, not to be quoted for a news story. Theresa is the spokesperson for this organization. This is an unfortunate situation and, as someone who has had cancer twice, I am sorry that he has to deal with that, too, but this is not something I can fix.
Ana Campos The Board is liable.
She did state she had an issue with his chemo and that is discrimination. I have no reason to make that up. She freely admits it. The police are involved because it is theft.
Theresa fraudulently posed as the owner Karen. She is not the owner. The contact is a purchase and there is a bill of sale. The contract is not a co-ownership like it was a vehicle purchase with co-owners and co-signers. It is a purchase. Dave owns that dog and animals are considered property.
What she did was in violation of state property statutes 705.102 and 705.104. They clearly state when you find lost property you must file a police report and surrender it upon request. There is a 90 day custodial period before the property becomes the finders. Should the finder refuse to relinquish the found property they commit grand theft and the severity is based upon several factors.
I've attached the statutes. The dog was not 'co-owned'. It is the property of Mr. Cunningham. That is where Theresa has also made a huge unlawful error.
If there were any issue, you know and she knows, she would have to go to court to enforce a 'contract dispute'.
It is not finders keepers. When she misrepresented herself as the owner she committed fraud. She acquired this 'lost property' by misrepresenting herself. When she said she would return the dog to the owner and then refused she committed grand theft. When she sold the property it is dealing in stolen property. That statute is 812.019
I assure you she has not told you the truth. I strongly suggest you have a lawyer educate her on the laws she broke. The police are involved and a lawsuit is being filed against her.
Ana Campos Karen,
I spoke to the chip company and we feel there is enough evidence to arrest Theresa. They advised me that Theresa Ink of PAWS called the chip company pretending to be the owner and tried to change the chip info on Jan 30 at 9:53am after stealing this dog. The dog was stolen. It is grand theft Karen.
I strongly suggest you be the voice of reason here with her and let Theresa know she committed grand theft and the family is pursuing an arrest. The news will be doing more stories.
Here are two other examples of rescues I helped get arrested based on those statutes. They found a lost dog and tried to play finders keepers or circumvent the court process. Theresa can not circumvent the court process. What she did was illegal and we will go above and beyond to make sure she is arrested.
Shawntavia Nelson was arrested in Palm Beach County in 2016.
Dr. Jill Levine of Atlas Animal Rescue was arrested for doing the exact same thing Theresa Ink has done. She had an adoption contract / bill of sale. You can't circumvent the judicial system and play finders keepers. She refused to return the dog and was arrested.
DNA Florida
The contents of this file has been taken from public sources and first-hand accounts and is for informational purposes only; and not to be considered a legal document.
