Would this annoy you? Charity donations?

[SpookyScarySkeletons]

Fully accepting I might be told I'm wrong in this one but I just wondered if this would annoy you??

There is a cat rescue that is very close to my heart. I support them a lot financially, send food and adopted both my girls from there. They really struggled during the pandemic as they couldn't do fundraising activities.

I took on a real hard challenge and raised £300 for them earlier this year. On Christmas Eve they asked for donations for vet bills for a little kitten they have just taken in. I sent a donation on Christmas morning.

I've just read on their Facebook group that as a "kind gesture" the rescue have sent £100 to another charity (nothing related to animals at all).

I'm honestly feeling a bit miffed as I sent my money thinking it would go towards kittens vets fees. And why are they asking for support if they can divert those funds to another charity who i (and other supporters) may or not support??

Am I being a miserly old grinch here???

YANBU OP. I would find that a bit in that context too.

If it were 'we're so lucky to have had more food than we need donated this Christmas so we're passing on some of the love to X or it'll go to waste' that's a bit different from appealing for cash donations one day, and handing it over to someone else the very next!!

I wouldn't be happy either ....I'd also express this to the rescue to be honest. I also commented to a local rescue who were asking for donations towards vets bills but then used charity money to fly in cats from foreign cat rescues 🤷🏻‍♀️ I haven't donated since.

@bonetiredwithtwins I think we may be talking about the same rescue...

If they’re registered with the Charity commission they shouldn’t do that unless flagged that they might up front.

Donations raised for a specific purpose can only be used for that specific purpose.

@WouldIBeATwat

If they’re registered with the Charity commission they shouldn’t do that unless flagged that they might up front.

Donations raised for a specific purpose can only be used for that specific purpose.

They aren't a registered charity so I assume those rules don't apply.

That’s an outrage. I’d be very cross about that.

I no longer donate to a local dog rescue that imports dogs from Romania. They are always moaning that people don’t donate any more. I always want to say that it’s because people want to help animals shelters that have taken in animals that have lost their homes. Not ones that are imported by choice.

If helping another animal rescue with an emergency situation-reasonable
If its a non animal related charity-unreasonable

I'd be really angry. People are donating to their charity to support their cause but they obviously don't need it. I'd find a new charity.

This is just not on.

You need to have a serious talk with them OP.

I'm so glad I'm not alone in thinking this. My DH thought I was being a bit OTT and I was starting to question myself.

There plenty of other cat rescues locally so I'm going to pick one of those instead. It just feels a bit sad to cut ties with the first rescue when I got my two from there.

Yeah it would annoy me 🤷🏼‍♀️

[quote SpookyScarySkeletons]@bonetiredwithtwins I think we may be talking about the same rescue...[/quote]

If it is they do it a lot....I've had my own kittens from there so often donated but we have our own cat/kitten issue in the U.K. for which they are always posting vets bills of £1000s asking for help but then seemingly find enough time/money to fly in foreign cats for rehoming even though they say their own foster homes/rescue is often full 🤔

The cat rescue we used I found out later is dodgy as hell and caused us no end of trauma when they covered up and refused to pay to investigate and rectify a botched spay that happened in their care, leading to a kidney having to be removed (our insurance didn't cover it as it was found within first 14 days).

The woman who runs it dips her hand into the donations jar to buy herself things, and whilst she's ever so smart at getting press releases published for more funds, also pays £££s to ship in cats from abroad.

Runs it like a profit-making business whilst cramming multiple unrelated cats into tiny pens.

I would never again use an independent cat rescue.

@ThreeLittleDots

The cat rescue we used I found out later is dodgy as hell and caused us no end of trauma when they covered up and refused to pay to investigate and rectify a botched spay that happened in their care, leading to a kidney having to be removed (our insurance didn't cover it as it was found within first 14 days).

The woman who runs it dips her hand into the donations jar to buy herself things, and whilst she's ever so smart at getting press releases published for more funds, also pays £££s to ship in cats from abroad.

Runs it like a profit-making business whilst cramming multiple unrelated cats into tiny pens.

I would never again use an independent cat rescue.

OMG that's appalling!! Is there anyone they can be reported to?

There is a lady local to me that fundraises mainly via raffle and sales of donated goods for animal charities.

Generally goes 50:50 to local animal shelters. Sometimes to other animal causes must importantly she regularly tells what is in the pot and she always asks/puts to the vote where the money goes

I would not be happy if she suddenly have it to some random cause!

@RozHuntleysStump

That’s an outrage. I’d be very cross about that.

I no longer donate to a local dog rescue that imports dogs from Romania. They are always moaning that people don’t donate any more. I always want to say that it’s because people want to help animals shelters that have taken in animals that have lost their homes. Not ones that are imported by choice.

So you only care about the welfare of dogs in the UK and not dogs suffering in other countries?

I'd rather they bring suffering animals here than leave them to be badly treated elsewhere 🤔

That's really confounding. I would be miffed as well! If they were diverting some funds to help another cat rescue who were desperate I could understand it maybe but this is bizarre and - tbh - totally inappropriate.

Have you raised this with them OP? I would certainly ask for clarification at the very least.

@Georgeskitchen

If helping another animal rescue with an emergency situation-reasonable If its a non animal related charity-unreasonable

That's not how the law sees it.

Why are they not a charity. That alone should be a red flag

I’d be miffed too.

@IWentAwayIStayedAway

Why are they not a charity. That alone should be a red flag

I have asked that before. They say it's too much time and hassle to apply for charitable status.

I didn't really think too much of it to be honest.

Our local not registered cat rescue is the same. Always an emergency always getting loads of donations but there was a mad episode of deleting loads of posts after they rehomed someone’s known pet just because it wasn’t chipped. They also go after all free or cheap kittens for sale locally and then “rehome” then for over £120 pre pandemic prices because of a £60 kitten package. No idea their pandemic prices since all moggies shot up in price.

I am afraid I lost some sympathy when you said it was not a charity. If you want to know your donations are being used correctly, or at least should have suitable rigour over them, then there are plenty of charities about!

@IWentAwayIStayedAway

Why are they not a charity. That alone should be a red flag

yes this unless you know the people running it really well or they are vouched for by someone you know IRL really well. Not only would I not be donating again, I'd be telling them why.

I would be very annoyed and I would think twice about donating to them again. I would also write to them and tell them how you feel. I doubt you will be the only one who is not impressed.