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#Post#: 925--------------------------------------------------
Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Victoria Date: May 15, 2018, 8:13 pm
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I follow a Cat Rescue ("CR") on Facebook. When I was growing up
I had a cat and have always wanted to adopt another, though my
current housing situation won't allow it. I saw a fundraiser
that CR put up for a "problem cat" ("Kitty") that my heart went
out to because of her story, and because she's had a problem
being adopted. The fundraiser listed medical procedures that
were upcoming for Kitty and I immediately donated a small
amount.
About an hour and a few donations later, the fundraiser was
taken down. CR said that the fundraiser for Kitty made some
people angry (I don't understand why/it was never explained) and
I asked if donations would be refunded. CR initially replied and
said yes, that would be possible, but then placed several more
comments below the first that became increasingly hostile,
ranting about their total expenses, how they operate, how they
could send me statements, etc. if I thought they were lying, and
how Other Cat also had really expensive bills that they had to
pay. One of the posts started with "Um. Okay. [rant]."
I prefer to direct exactly where my donations go. It's a
preference, and I politely expressed that. I also saw this first
donation as a potential stepping stone and thought of asking to
pick up a bill or two as Kitty recovered. At the time I donated
I was willing to overlook some of the more
amateurish/unprofessional statements and weird decisions that CR
had made because I thought that Kitty was going to get a
specific treatment for my money. The more I look around on their
page the more unprofessional they seem. When questioned about
anything the official CR page rants about being attacked, and
about "sitting at home crying" and gives various other highly
inappropriate responses. I feel like I should defend myself, but
I'm really at a loss for how to respond to CR, if I should even
say anything. One person has even called me callous, and I'm
afraid I now look like a soulless monster to the rest of the
people who see the page.
#Post#: 931--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Kiwipinball Date: May 15, 2018, 8:36 pm
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I wouldn't try to defend yourself. It's going to set off more
rants, most likely. I'm assuming you can afford the amount you
donated (or you wouldn't have donated) so I'd probably just tell
myself it was still helping cats and distance myself from the
CR. If you're ever in a position to rescue, see if you can find
a different group. That's going to be the least frustrating
solution I think.
However, you are absolutely not callous for wanting a refund
when the thing you donated to is no longer happening (that
actually wasn't 100% clear - are they no longer helping kitty?
Or did they just cancel the fundraiser?).
#Post#: 932--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: guest260 Date: May 15, 2018, 8:45 pm
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I seriously don't understand why this sort of carry on seems to
be a thing with so many online animal rescues - it's so weird.
I've seen similar things happen a few times on FB. I agree with
Kiwipinball - i would probably write it off this one time, and
seriously never donate to them again. I don't think there is
much you can do in terms of getting the money back and i do
actually think you risk making yourself a target if you say
something on their page. Which is completely bullshit, for sure.
I also totally want to know where my money is going, so it's not
at all unreasonable for you to ask.
#Post#: 933--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Victoria Date: May 15, 2018, 8:55 pm
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[quote author=Kiwipinball link=topic=117.msg931#msg931
date=1526434560]
I wouldn't try to defend yourself. It's going to set off more
rants, most likely. I'm assuming you can afford the amount you
donated (or you wouldn't have donated) so I'd probably just tell
myself it was still helping cats and distance myself from the
CR. If you're ever in a position to rescue, see if you can find
a different group. That's going to be the least frustrating
solution I think.
However, you are absolutely not callous for wanting a refund
when the thing you donated to is no longer happening (that
actually wasn't 100% clear - are they no longer helping kitty?
Or did they just cancel the fundraiser?).
[/quote]
They're still helping Kitty, but some of the expenses like
visits to a behavioral therapist could possibly be put off (as
opposed to pressing medical needs), which is what I suspect is
what's happening. They also keep ranting at me/other people and
saying things like "I'm so in debt from running CR and Other Cat
has medical needs and we have such-and-such operating expenses
and I can show you the bills" which makes me think that some of
Kitty's expenses are going to get "re-prioritized" for lack of a
better term. I don't have any reason to think that CR is doing
anything illegal but I also don't know why you'd be so hostile
at the idea of someone wanting to donate toward the care of a
specific cat rather than making a "general donation."
#Post#: 934--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Pattycake Date: May 15, 2018, 9:16 pm
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[quote author=Victoria link=topic=117.msg933#msg933
date=1526435734]
[quote author=Kiwipinball link=topic=117.msg931#msg931
date=1526434560]
I wouldn't try to defend yourself. It's going to set off more
rants, most likely. I'm assuming you can afford the amount you
donated (or you wouldn't have donated) so I'd probably just tell
myself it was still helping cats and distance myself from the
CR. If you're ever in a position to rescue, see if you can find
a different group. That's going to be the least frustrating
solution I think.
However, you are absolutely not callous for wanting a refund
when the thing you donated to is no longer happening (that
actually wasn't 100% clear - are they no longer helping kitty?
Or did they just cancel the fundraiser?).
[/quote]
They're still helping Kitty, but some of the expenses like
visits to a behavioral therapist could possibly be put off (as
opposed to pressing medical needs), which is what I suspect is
what's happening. They also keep ranting at me/other people and
saying things like "I'm so in debt from running CR and Other Cat
has medical needs and we have such-and-such operating expenses
and I can show you the bills" which makes me think that some of
Kitty's expenses are going to get "re-prioritized" for lack of a
better term. I don't have any reason to think that CR is doing
anything illegal but I also don't know why you'd be so hostile
at the idea of someone wanting to donate toward the care of a
specific cat rather than making a "general donation."
[/quote]
People get in over their heads then lose control of the
situation, and then someone tries to help, and they're the ones
that get dumped on. It's really not you, it's them.
If you paid by credit card and you really want to redirect your
donation elsewhere, you could ask the card company to do a
charge back. But I would just let it go and count it as at least
the kitties are getting some help, then find somewhere else
(after thoroughly investigating first!)
#Post#: 935--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Luci Date: May 15, 2018, 9:17 pm
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Are you sure they are legitimate? It really doesn’t sound like
it to me, including the added bills and the professional
terminology
.
#Post#: 938--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Victoria Date: May 15, 2018, 9:22 pm
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[quote author=Luci link=topic=117.msg935#msg935 date=1526437075]
Are you sure they are legitimate? It really doesn’t sound like
it to me, including the added bills and the professional
terminology
.
[/quote]
They are legitimate in that they are helping cats and (as far as
I can tell) aren't engaging in illegal activity/animal
abuse/fraud. But it's all too easy to set yourself up as a
"rescue" even if it is just you and your partner operating on a
shoestring budget out of your house. However, they are the least
professional organization that I have ever come across.
#Post#: 958--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Bada Date: May 15, 2018, 10:35 pm
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Are they an American based 501c3? They actually have to obey
restrictions placed on donations (This must be used for X cat
not Y cat. Or must be used for Z service not Q.) I'm not sure
if their status gets revoked or what, but it's a Big Deal from
my experience in non-profits.
I agree with those who say it's probably not worth defending
yourself against the dog-piling.
#Post#: 963--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Hanna Date: May 15, 2018, 11:04 pm
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[quote author=Bada link=topic=117.msg958#msg958 date=1526441735]
Are they an American based 501c3? They actually have to obey
restrictions placed on donations (This must be used for X cat
not Y cat. Or must be used for Z service not Q.) I'm not sure
if their status gets revoked or what, but it's a Big Deal from
my experience in non-profits.
[/quote]
Agree with this. Also, there are State specific registration
requirements in the US.
#Post#: 1041--------------------------------------------------
Re: Hostile/Unprofessional Rescue
By: Hmmm Date: May 16, 2018, 10:02 am
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I think I would be moving away from this cat rescue group. Any
time an organization gets defensive about how donations are
spent is a red flag to me. They've either been challenged other
times and know they do a poor job tracking their spending and
are naturally defensive or they really are doing some
underhanded activities. Either way, I'm not going to contribute
my money to them. This is probably not the first time people
have raised concerns about their fundraising practices since
they took this one down so quickly.
There are many other rescue groups who are run professionally
and don't attack their supporters.
Wish Kitty well, and find another group. (i.e. don't engage the
crazies)
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