Well, it looks like the lady who scammed me out of rabbit pedigrees a couple of years ago and had all her rabbits seized by the SPCA last spring has now joined the bee club. My bee club.
I attended a bee workshop this morning to observe some packages being split and of course, who shows up but Desiree Michaels.
I suppose when you keep people’s money and never give them what they paid for, you can save up some funds and use it get into a new hobby. I’m sure she has much more free time and money on her hands now as well since the taxpayers have funded the removal, medical care, euthanasia, spaying/neutering and rehoming of at least 50 of her horribly neglected rabbits. The news article and video can be found here:
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/50-rabbits-seized-from-deplorable-conditions-near-nanaimo-1.2339872
It was the largest rabbit cruelty seizure that Nanaimo has ever seen. The SPCA is quoted as saying:
“Animals were living next to deceased animals… horrible conditions. Many of them were underweight. Others had overgrown nails that were curled and coiled and dental issues…”
And:
“Photos taken by staff were so appalling that the public would not want to see them…”
This is the woman who now wants to get involved in beekeeping.
I am at least comforted by the fact that you cannot exactly abuse and neglect bees unless you expect to be abused back and your colonies to die in short order. What concerns me is that she may now try to rip off other local beekeepers who do not know how dishonest and heartless she is.
At least I was able to snap a photo of her today, so bee friends please “bee” warned.
Abernathy's Rabbitry 
It’s true – you can and folk do neglect bees and they usually die as a result. It’s a shame because many people think it’s only ‘natural’ to leave them alone to do their thing, but honey bees are not ‘natural’. They’ve been bred and selected and transported around the globe – honey bees are not a native wild species, they’re a managed species. It’s as ‘natural’ to neglect honey bees as it is to dump your pet pooch in the woods and expect it to survive!
Sorry about ranting on your post, Onedog.
I agree with you. I just hope the money runs out before too many bees learn the hard way about her standards of “care”.