Bad Manners and Brimstone

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.

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.

Quote from: Kiwipinball on May 15, 2018, 08:36:00 pm

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?).

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."

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!)

Are you sure they are legitimate? It really doesn’t sound like it to me, including the added bills and the professional terminology
.

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.

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.

Agree with this. Also, there are State specific registration requirements in the US.

This sounds like the type of operation my ex-sister in law used to run. She was never set up as an official charity or had any type of licensing. She would post all sorts of sob stories online and raise money, most of which never made it to the stated purpose. Sure, she helped a few animals but in reality she was using the money people donated as her income.
I would politely and unobtrusively leave the group. Assume that you have learned a good lesson and find another group to help.

I would consider this a lesson learned. I limit my donations to organizations that I am familiar with. I also like to keep my donations local. I and my friends have adopted dogs from rescues from  that I know do a good job. I've been to their locations. My sister has adopted cats. There is an organization here that provides low cost neutering.

Donating to someone from Facebook that you aren't familiar with is risky. The defensiveness and ranting shows a lack of maturity and professionalism. They might be similar to darkprincess's sister. They might be in over their head. They might be flakes. They might be a scam. I know one thing, there are a lot of good cat rescues out there. Before you donate or adopt a cat visit a couple of them.

Agreed. If someone says they are running a charity or nonprofit, it's best to check Charity Navigator to see if they really are one. Filing a 501(c) isn't that difficult; I know teenagers who have done it. If they haven't done this simple task, they are defrauding their patrons and the government.