The comic strip above says “I’ll get my revenge on him”.
In my case, it’s most definitely a “HER.”

I tried to put this behind me. I’ve rebuilt my life in many ways, and I now have a wonderful companion in Stella Mia, who brings me love and joy every day. I knew it was a bad idea to fight this battle in court—dealing with toxic people who had no interest in mediation or fairness was bound to be a losing game. So I let it go, or at least, I tried.

But this morning, at 4 a.m., I woke up from a nightmare about Stella being stolen from me. These nightmares are all too familiar. They pull me back to the trauma of three years ago, when my beloved Charley and Mimi were stolen under false pretenses.

In 2021, Anna Maria Varriano, co-owner of the now-closed Mona Moore shoe store and a fixture in Montreal’s fashion scene, took my emotional support animals, claiming she was temporarily caring for them while I was hospitalized. Instead, she rehomed them without my consent, falsely accusing me of animal abuse to justify her actions. Her lies didn’t stop there. Anna even claimed I left a dead rat at her door and made a threatening phone call about her dog—absurd allegations that anyone who knows me would find laughable. I could never harm an animal, but she clearly had no problem inflicting harm on me. These baseless accusations only compounded the trauma of losing Charley and Mimi.

I consulted a lawyer and learned that Anna had no right to bypass the YMCA, the organization responsible for assessing animal welfare and determining whether rehoming is necessary. Later, I discovered the SPCA has clear protocols for emergencies like mine, where an owner is taken away by ambulance. They attempt to locate the owner within a week, contact their hospital, and arrange fostering until the owner is released. Had I known this, I would never have entrusted my animals to Anna.

The betrayal was devastating, made worse by the stigma I faced as someone with mental health challenges. My animals were my lifeline, my family, and their sudden loss during my most vulnerable moments left lasting scars.

Let me be clear: I am naming Anna Maria Varriano without fear of defamation. The statute of limitations to bring a case against her has passed, but if she chooses to take legal action, I welcome the chance to present the truth. The email exchanges and her actions speak volumes.

The people who perpetrated this injustice NEED TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, whether through the court of public opinion or otherwise. I won’t be kind to them in my memoir—that’s for certain. As my father often said, “These people are devils.” 👺👹

Sharing this story isn’t just about exposing Anna’s betrayal. It’s about raising awareness of the mistreatment of people with mental health challenges and the systemic failures that leave them vulnerable. Telling my truth is a step toward healing, and I hope it serves as a reminder that no one deserves to be dehumanized because they’re struggling.

To my loyal supporters, thank you for standing by me. Your kindness keeps me going. 💖

I adopted Charley, a Chinese crested and chihuhua mix, then aged 2.5 years old, from the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine animal shelter in Saint-Hyacinthe on March 15, 2016, and Mimi at 6 months old from the Montreal SPCA on September 11, 2008. They were my loyal companions until I required emergency hospitalization on August 24, 2021.

Stella Mia, born October 4, 2021, my current companion, has been a source of love and comfort as I was forced to navigate life changes and clinical depression without Charley and Mimi. Like Charley, she’s a Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix, which I later learned is considered a ‘designer breed’ called a Chichi—albeit a less well-known one. She is a sweetheart, as all my animals have been. I am told my animals take after the human who cares for them .🥰