Money and Animal Problems Caused by Irresponsible Animal Rescuers Excercise caution before adopting animals or donating to these people. Unethical and illegal animal rescue groups and individuals are causing problems all over the country today. State Agriculture Departments and Public Health Departments can confirm this fact. The "Irresponsible Rescuers" are taking so many animals from NC shelters that it is impossible to have homes for them immediately. They end up spending weeks or months at vet facilities or in the backyard of volunteers who are often "hoarders". Needless to say conditions at these holding facilities are not great. The " Rescuers" have acknowledged that they do not have foster homes or permanent homes for the majority of the animals they get each week. They are taking them so they will not be "killed" and worrying about raising the money and finding homes later !! So the animals suffer. The problems start when they remove large numbers of often sick dogs, cats, kittens and puppies from city/county animal control facilites in North Carolina. Some then receive very basic vet exams. Others, even though they are sick, get immediately shipped to unsuspecting adopters in northern states. Many times the "rescuers" violate state laws by shipping the animals without first obtaining a Health Certificate which is mandatory. Local veterinarians in south eastern NC house a large number of these animals. At present there over 125 dogs and cats stored in vet clinics. Most of the individuals they pay to transport the animals are not registered or licensed with the federal USDA - APHIS Department. The US Dept. of Agriculture administers rules and regulations regarding the transport of companion animals. It is very troubling that these "rescuers" hire unregistered animal transporters. The animals are at risk as a result. The vehicles used by these people are sometimes substandard, without air conditioning and animals are overcrowed as they try to move as many as possible on each trip to make more $$$$. Many times the animals do not get food, water, bathroom, or excercise breaks. Some of the trips are 500-1000 miles. When the sick animals do arrive adopters have faced unexpected and large vet bills. The medical problems include Parvo, Distempter, and Heart Worms. This has been confirmed in dogs recemtly delivered to Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, and Iowa. These contagious diseases will be spread to other animals in those states. Here is a story about one recent situation.
http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/parvo-outbreak-threatens-to-shut-down-rescue-organization Some animals have died in transport and some have died after they arrive. The "Irresponsible Rescuers" refuse to provide adopters with any financial assistance for any of the medical bills incurred. The new pet owners are on their own !! One of their most irresponsible acts, however, is that they send 1000s of animals to other states without first completing Spay or Neuter surgery !!! These animals multiply and contribute to filling up animal sheters again. This adds to the work of shelter employees and the cost created by the new animals must be paid by the taxpayers. These "irresponsible rescuers" are also causing financial problems. There are serious questions about the way they are using Face Book, ChipIn, and Paypal to generate "donations" from unsuspecting people. The majority of these donation seeking accounts are run by people that do not have an IRS approved 501c3 organization. Funds appear to be misused on a regular basis. It has been reported that the "rescuers" are engaging in illegal internet fund raising activities. The Donations are not deductible and Penny Ashenhurst, Melissa Impens, Julie Cameron, Mary Thomas and others have refused to provide an accounting for the funds that have been donated. They also refused to provide an accounting for how the donated funds were spent. In other words, Penny and her pals refuse to provide any income and expense information to the public or to the donors. This should be brought to the attention of the states revenue departments, the IRS, and the taxing authority in Wales where Ms. Ashenhurt resides. The amount of taxable income that has been generated "off the books" is probably very substantial. Smokey taken by "Irresponsible Rescuers"
5/25/2011 These same "Irresponsible Rescuers" have deprived a family in Columbus County, NC of their dog named Smokey. These individuals conspired to deprive the McPherson family of their dog/property and did not act according to the code of animal rescue ethics. These people took Smokey from the CCAC shelter in NC. They were advised by the owner that they wanted Smokey returned to them. The "Irresponsible Rescuers" refused to return Smokey to his owners and in fact conspired with Cynthia Burnett, a local vet, to hide him. And that was after Melissa Impens told the owners where Smokey was and that they could get him back by paying the vet bill. When the McPherson's arrived at the vets office to pay the bill, Smokey had been hiden by the Cynthia Burnett, DVM and Rosy Kirby. Was this because Smokey is a purebred Austrailan Shepherd ? Whatever the reason, this was an underhanded, unethical and unprofessional act. Melissa Impens and the "Irresponsible Rescuers" caused the family to suffer a great deal. And this has been particularly hard on their children. The "Irresponsible Rescuers" also inflicted unnecessary stress on Smokey who has also been victimized by their actions. "Rescue Ring" had Smokey after the McPhersons were told they could go to the vets office and pick him up. Mrs. McPherson stated, "My family is having a hard time understanding how one person in Wisconsin can pass judgment on a family in NC. What experience and by what authority is she allowed to do that to us and to Smokey. We are heartsick" These "Irresponsible Rescuers" Ripped Off the McPherson family. They should and will be made to return Smokey to his family home. In summary, these "Irresponsible Rescuers" operate without accountability and no oversight. There is financial "monkey business" going on and the public is being refused accounting records. These serious matters involve the welfare of innocent animals and alleged ongoing internet fraud and must be investigated. These "Irresponsible Rescuers" should face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The innocent animals and the unsuspecting donors must be protected from these predators.