To not pay the charity?

[helpmeout6]

Name changed as outing.

I adopted a rescue dog through a charity 18 months ago, she's the love of my life. I now volunteer weekly for the charity to help where I can.

From the same woman, who had moved to a different charity, a middle aged dog was available after her family backed out. I was told that the family had backed out whilst she was en route to UK (from a European country with a bad rep for dog treatment). They would have had to pay her costs to have her on the plane, I know this as the set up is the same as the charity I volunteer for and had all the training for.
The dog went to emergency foster in UK and I felt a connection so agreed to adopt. The dog came and it's been tough but we will persevere.
Almost 2 weeks after having her I get a text from the woman saying my outstanding fee is due, it's in the hundreds, the fee to fly the dog from the country.

I don't think I should have to pay because

1. I asked about a fee and it was never responded to or mentioned again
2. I didn't get the dog from abroad, I got her from the UK
3. if we had been told about the fee we wouldn't have adopted. Partly we can't afford it (DH has lost 1/3 of his income due to C19) and also we took the dog in as she is less desirable than a puppy so I knew demand for her was small, she needs a lot of vet treatment and also I wanted to give her a good rest of life.

So who is in the wrong?
I feel guilt as it's a charity but I do my part for the charity and it's not like I'm trying to get a free dog I just don't think it's been arranged well.

Thanks. This woman and the charity is in a legal battle with the one I volunteer for... not sure what about but definitely dodgy.

Going to refuse and see what they say.

The "woman" and "charity" seem interchangeable in your posts - seems dodgy. Is it just her running this "charity"?

reply along the lines of what @SeaEagleFeather suggested.

CC in the Chief Executive and/or a Trustee

@notajogger

Woman, let's say Sally, used to work for ABC charity but left along with the cofounder to start DEF Charity. I got the dog from Sally who was acting on behalf of DEF.

Did the charity not have any kind of contract with the original family to say that they would be liable for all transport costs, even if they back out at the last minute, given the fact that the only reason the dog was being brought over here is because they wanted her in the first place? If not, it may be worth them looking into it in the future.

Call their bluff, as others have suggested. Tell them they can have the dog back but in the interests of transparency they need to be aware that there will be XXX expenses to pay for your costs in caring for her so far.

but she said there's just been a misunderstanding
'There certainly has. I can return the dog, please advise a good day and time.'
See what they say to that!

Utterly ridiculous.

Glad you have refused. Stick to your guns OP.

As PPs have suggested you could call her bluff and say you'll have to give the dog back as you can't afford it. I'm not sure I would go down that road though as she might agree to that and then you're in a tricky situation.

Refuse on the grounds that had you been told you'd need to pay for the transport costs, you wouldn't have taken her on.

Suggest they can collect the dog at your convienence, once they have paid your costs for housing, feeding, insuring and vet treatments not covered by insurance. Present an invoice for that.

Either the dog is yours, and they can't have it back.

Or the dog is theirs and they owe you for the costs you have incurred.

I will warn you though, unfortunately some of these rescues that ship dogs in from abroad are beyond dodgy -the reason the dog needs to have a home before shipping is because they are bringing dogs in on the pet passport scheme, which is NOT the appropriate legislation/paperwork to use for rescues AT ALL!

It is therefore not beyond the bounds of possibility that you will have some screaming banshee show up on your doorstep in the middle of the night, shouting abuse and demanding the dog back.

Tread carefully!

@widdlin do you mind explaining the different schemes they bring the dogs in on? I thought you had to have a home for the dog to come to but her argument is they didn't now

So an update: before these messages I had a notification that "sender has unsent the messages" on insta. I didn't think anything of it and thought a wrong account or random messaged me. I then realised at night that it could have been her before she asked for money... I then realised she had deleted the messages that said how the dog was paid for by another family!!

I spoke to her and she said a few things

• another family would have been best
• admitted that she never told me and that she had not done the process officially as she had "known" me
• said she naively trusted me

The end of the convo was:

1. I pay full fee or
2. they rehome the dog.

Look forward to them trying, she's firmly our family now. Also I signed a contract that the dog is mine.

If you signed an adoption agreement, the fee is usually on there?

Also, adoption agreements usually have a trial period where they can reclaim the dog

Do they think they can rehome this dog with someone who will pay £1400 for an old dog who needs £100 insurance?? They'll be lucky.

I would just completely stop communicating now. Don't reply to anymore messages And don't pick up the phone if she calls. There is no point.

If you receive a letter from a solicitor then at that point speak to a solicitor yourself obviously they can respond for you. Really just completely ignore her unless it gets that far.

I would be really surprised if you get a letter from a solicitor...

What a load of crap. Don't pay it.

Stick to your guns OP, she doesn't have a leg to stand on!

I'd just ignore her now. Let them try to take you to court (I'm betting they won't bother), there's no proof they asked you for the fee beforehand and you have the adoption paperwork, I can't see them winning that one!

I'd save the notifications that she's deleted that conversation regarding another family having paid the fee, helps your cause.

Don’t claim to be an expert but my daughter recently got a dog under similar circumstances. However a. The dog came by road so no flying, no upfront costs but made a donation.

Deleting the previous messages is dodgy as hell. Admitting to not using the proper channels too.

She might be trying to personally profit.

I don't know enough about animal charities to know if there's a way to report her but I probably would if there were.

Seems unlikely they'd be able to get a donation "in the hundreds" for a random mongrel in the current situation.
If the new organisation is a registered charity, let her know that you are unhappy with the harassment, and that you will report the charity to the charity commission.

Sorry - I appreciate that although I've described him as a random mongrel. you clearly love him lots and he's become part of your family.

That’s appalling, it’s like she’s trying to sell the dog and doesn’t give a shit about it’s welfare.

Why has she not got a contract in place that people can’t back out?

She’s never going to find someone to pay hundreds to take this dog, why remove them from a loving home.

Hi OP, just wondering if anything further had happened? Must be horrible for you.

Did you rehome the dog?

So what happened op?

Curious now too!