Bogus rescue

JillA

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2007
Messages
8,166
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
I have come across a so called "not for profit" dog rescue who seems to be coining it in - fund raising from the public, with hefty adoption fee and almost no costs, any dogs are in foster care. I have politely requested to be told what their funds are spent on and been met with abuse and no answers. Anyone know the best way to tackle this? They are moving dogs all round the country, taking them from well settled foster homes in order to get an adoption fee elsewhere, so not exactly having the dogs interests at heart. It seems to be being run alongside a boarding kennels. I can't identify them as yet but ?police - ?HMRC - ?press - any other official organisation to stop them conning the public and stressing dogs.
 
Last edited:

Fides

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 August 2013
Messages
2,946
Visit site
I don't understand the problem. I foster for a rescue and once a forever home is found the dogs move on. Would you rather they were kennelled? I'm not sure what your issue is with this setup
 

Clodagh

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 August 2005
Messages
24,952
Location
Devon
Visit site
But I bet I can guess what they are called! There has been a long discussion about them in the past, if it is who I am thinking of, search on here OP.
 

ribbons

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 April 2012
Messages
2,264
Visit site
Foster homes are just that. I am involved in two breed rescues and we rely entirely on foster homes. We are always concerned when a fosterer decides to adopt a dog they are fostering as it reduces the places available when short term homes are essential to access health and temperament.
I'm not clear what your problem is, they will have costs as they should cover all vet fees and other expenses whilst dogs are in foster care, if they don't, they won't get people willing to foster.
Could you elaborate on the exact problem you have uncovered.
 

PucciNPoni

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 March 2009
Messages
4,064
Visit site
It sounds to me that the op was concerned that it was more of a profit making racket rather than a non-profit organisation - I don't know the ins and outs, but I think with rescues they need to be transparent in order to be legitimised. It doesn't sound like this is happening as she wasn't able to get a clear understanding of the financial status.

However, as for the lack of kennels and just fostering - that's not really an issue IMO. I help a poodle rescue - the money we raise doesn't go in to day to day care or grooming of the dogs (we have volunteers to do this). But we do raise money for transport from where they come from to where they will reside - and also for medical care and neutering as sometimes these dogs will come with medical issues.

We also are completely transparent.
 

Dry Rot

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 May 2010
Messages
5,847
Location
Scotland
Visit site
I understand the OP's concerns. This set up is apparently gathering donations from the public by trading on people's emotions rather than their intelligence and reasoning.

I have had dealings with a similar set up, not "rescuing" animals but allegedly promoting a cause that is of concern to a small percentage of the gullible public. The organisation I am thinking of is not a registered charity and the reply I got from the authorities is that people can donate money to a cause if they want to and others can receive it. Basically, that is not illegal (or a few political parties would quickly go broke!). What is illegal is obtaining donations using deception which, of course, is fraud. Unfortunately, these people are often well versed in the law and at the end of the day nothing can be done. In our free democratic society, it is not against the law to be stupid nor for others to take advantage of that stupidity!
 

JillA

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 May 2007
Messages
8,166
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
So, those who foster, do you receive money to pay for food etc or do you provide that out of your own pocket? Said "organisation" insisted on removing a dog from a fosterer who had decided she wanted to adopt, and transported him across the country, the suspicion is they were hoping to get a bigger adoption fee despite that not really being in the dogs best interest. I still have not had any answers about how the money is utilised, so no, no transparency, each time I have raised the issue it has been met with spite and name calling, making me think something just isn't right.
 

Fides

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 August 2013
Messages
2,946
Visit site
The charity owns the dog, if they deem the home isn't suitable for a permanent home then that is their decision. If it is the case I am thinking of there is a law suit that is ongoing?

Eta - as a fosterer the charity pays for all vets Bill and any veterinary diets. Fosterer pays for food but not always as large breeds may be paid for.
 
Last edited:

Dobiegirl

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 February 2011
Messages
6,900
Location
Wildest Somerset
Visit site
As a fosterer the rescue provides all the food which they are given, I get to choose what the dog eats and I arrange the home visits and the final say in who adopts the dog, I realise not every rescue operates this way but that is the only way I will foster. None of my foster dogs bounce either which the rescue does have a high proportion of, the rescue respect me and know Im a perfectionist and a dog stays with me as long as it takes to find the right home. My last foster dog I spotted on a Dobe site and she was going to the pound as the owner couldnt have her any longer, I rang up the rescue and said if I take her will you give me RBU which they agreed, this dog was spayed and up to date with vaxes etc an d her chip was transferred to the rescue so she didnt cost the rescue a bean, I found a fantastic home for her and she is living a life I would be envious of. If she or any of the foster dogs needed to see a vet its paid for by the rescue although I would have to take them.
 

Dry Rot

Well-Known Member
Joined
31 May 2010
Messages
5,847
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Is this "rescue" a registered charity?

The point I was trying to make in my earlier posts is that I don't think they have to be. If not a registered charity, they are not accountable to the charity commissioners.
 

lexiedhb

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 January 2007
Messages
13,959
Location
Surrey
Visit site
Ummm how are they "coining it in" I know how much the rescue I got Dex off struggles to make ends meet, by fundraising etc. Costs of neutering, food, vacs worming etc all are not cheap. I also cant see the issue of moving a dog from one area of the country to another for a home.... we waved one off to France the other day!!!
 

Sleighfarer

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2009
Messages
3,013
Visit site
If this is the rescue I think it is, the owners will take legal action against such assertions, though they have in the past said their books are open for inspection.

I don't really see what the problem is - they are not pretending to be a charity.
 

TrasaM

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2012
Messages
4,742
Location
Midlands
Visit site
Difficult subject this. I do know of an instance where a dog who was bought in from cyprus was taken on by a specialist breed rescue. The Cyprus adoption cost was paid however the rehoming fee quoted by said group was far in excess of the travel and medical costs in incurred in Cyprus ..none of the extra 'revenue' went back to the people who'd helped the dog in Cyprus.
I am all in favour of transparency here because if people start feeling that they are being ripped off then word gets around and people will expect all the rescues operating from abroad are scams. The pup I took on recently was fund raised for her flight and I just covered her passport and medical fees and also contributed to the flight cost. I know exactly how much flight cost and rest of fees so I know that no profit was made by those involved.
I would personally love to do an audit which checks what the 'specialist ' re homers are charging against what the Cyprus rescues actually receive. I know people who work tirelessly to help dogs in dire circumstances and id hate to think that someone is profiting on their backs ..it makes me very very cross in fact. People shouldn't claim to be compassionate rescuing angels and then line their own pockets. It also pains me that certain true to type breeds are snapped up immediately whilst the mixed breeds get left to the rescues to promote by themselves.
 
Last edited:
Top