I fostered an elderly rescue dog and the rescue have sent me a £3k county court form?

[LostforWords2021]

On the 8th April 2020 a friend sent me a message asking if I had room to take in an elderly dog who's owner had died. He was poorly, overweight and due to be pts if a foster place couldn't be found.

I hadnt heard of the rescue before, a FB msg group was set up for us all to talk about the process. The rescue knew nothing about the dog, hadn't met him but did send a driver to collect him and drive him to us during the first lock down.

Apart from messenger I had no other contact for the rescue. I spent over £1200 on vet bills, food and comfort toys inc orthopaedic beds and natural remedies. I did sign a foster agreement.

It was agreed I would adopt him but I didn't receive a contact. Unfortunately the poor boy took a turn for the worst and the vet advised pts, which we did in Aug. During April and August they had a vet nurse on the group chat advising against the vets treatment, urging us to complain and sending us treatment cards via msg of what she would be doing at her surgery, it was very stressful.

I received a solicitor letter which I responded to - apparently, I wasn't authorised to get treatment or make decisions even though we agreed I had adopted him 1 month prior to becoming so poorly and kept them all up to date with what was happening.

Today I've received a county court money claim form and I don't know what to do next, I've attached a picture of the claim for a dog the rescue never met, never assessed or paid for anything towards his day to day care for the 5 months I paid for everything because I wanted to.

I do have some screen shots of conversations but the have deleted the main group chat and the vet is refusing an information request due to being to involved - we disagree with some of the comments made as we weren't made aware of what treatment they carried out due to lock down and not being able to be present with our dog.

I’m pleased this is over for you now but how terrible that they dragged it on so long! Bruce looks like he was a wonderful boy who had a happy final home with you.

(my username has no relevance to this thread, it's just a coincidence)
I remember your earlier threads
So glad that it's over, the chancers just not turning up is such a waste of court time. They knew they had no case.
I'm sure it would be great for the OP to counterclaim but it's pretty definite that the shysters will have changed their name and have nothing worth pursuing

Aww hello @BruceAndNosh lovely coincidence
I was offered to continue with the counterclaim (which was a lot more than £3k) and they have left it open for 12 months just in case the other party decide to try again with a new solicitor.

im emotionally exhausted and want nothing more to do with them, it was never about the money for me. No press, no social media statements (I appreciate I am here but it’s where I have been from the start)

I just want peace and time to recover from it all.
I know I should be stronger and call them out to warn others, shout from the rooftops what that vile vet nurse put me through and the dreadful malpractices of the vets practice.

it’s diabolical and I will never offer help outside of my family ever again. I’m disgusted but I don’t have anything left in me to fight and I was only fighting for my handsome boy who is no longer here.

it’s over and at least I didn’t let him suffer like they would have let him.

I missed the deleted comment, no doubt a supporter in the rescue as it’s all quite identifying. Fuck you Pina and fuck all of your merry, horrible money grabbing fraudster friends

I love you Bruce, rest easy buddy

I’m glad to hear it is over. There are some really shitty people out there.

@LostforWords2021
I have a friend who is a Trustee of a decades old Registered Charity Breed specific rescue.
I showed them this thread and they were absolutely appalled.
Their Charity has a fund specifically for poorly dogs who need veterinary help under their care with a pre existing condition, or if a condition becomes apparent in a new adoptive home.

You did the best for your poor boy, Gave him a happy few months.

These rogue “Rescues” need a lot more inspection-
Looks like a rogue rescue and a rogue solicitors were in cahoots to fleece loving, caring dog owners.
I would only ever adopt from a Bona fide charity , One hears horror stories about the smaller “ Rescues”

So sorry it went on so long for you OP and they didn’t even show up.
rest easy Bruce

That’s appalling that they didn’t bother to turn up after all the stress that they put you through. They should be fined.

I have a houseful of rescue animals, I wouldn’t have anything else, but I have come across a few totally batty rescue people. Obviously the ones you’ve come across beat them all!

I hope, in a while when you’ve unwound, you do think about pursuing some recourse, even if it’s just the vet nurse that hat was probably badly advising you.

Contrary to what some people seem to think, writing "without prejudice" on a document doesn't automatically protect you from any legal consequences. Protection only applies when the communication is part of genuine settlement negotiations. If there is no genuine dispute or no negotiations, writing "without prejudice" on a document makes no difference.

I’ve just found and read your post. I’m appalled that this has dragged on for two years, the stress of this during the most horrid time. I cried for you and your family and your beautiful boy. You did him proud. X you are an Angel

There is a fair few online rescues that have no legal basis that try and do this. What paperwork have you signed? Was the dog microchipped and if so, in whose name? If you haven't any proof of ownership one way or another then they have little to go on.

Speak to citizens advice as your first port of call, and I wouldn't bother with a counter claim - could get costly and have no basis.

Re vet involvement - they should give you your records legally. But be warned they maybe patchy. And if you have any ongoing issues contact the Royal Veterinary College for advice and a complaint.

Ignore my last post. Have just clocked this is an old thread. Just wanted to say Bruce was beautiful and very lucky to have you. I hope this is now all sorted and you can finally have some peace. And am so sorry you have been through this. My rescue dogs are such a huge part of my life and give love back in abundance. It would break my heart to go through what you have gone through.

Oh god, what a horrific experience they put you through for doing something kind😞

So pleased it’s over for you op, RIP Bruce and enjoy your new puppy. It’s enough to put anyone off rescuing, certainly made me think again about smaller rescues.

www.swlondoner.co.uk/news/25112022-animal-rescue-forced-to-turn-animals-due-to-financial-difficulties?fbclid=IwAR3XhhDTH8JhgdxfiwYqmsCzqryEfs8JXn4GgusvvWnG2_lUO5KRv4-OxKI

I’m Beyond disgusted with this band of scammers. Already raised over £5k in this single crowd fund and I still can’t find them registered anywhere.

this was posted today along with a sad story that I can read the truth behind, vile people.

only interested in dragging good people through grief, stress and heartbreak

i didn’t want to name them, this forced my hand and needs to be seen.

@LostforWords2021
did you get anywhere with your RCVS complaint?

a nurse should not have been sending meds for a dog they’ve not seen (it’s not ‘under the care’ of the prescribing vet)

also what happened re: the surgery?

I dropped everything
only wanted to concentrate on what I had to go though on Friday

I’m now angry, really angry. How many people paid them off to avoid court?

There’s a lot that that firm seemingly has to answer for. www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/solicitors-accused-serious-misconduct-judge-22102654.amp

Yes, they are not my focus, they don’t exist now they have been closed down

I’m cross that this rescue are crowd funding when I can’t find them registered any where and yet again gunning for some other poor sole who may well be vulnerable

For once I'm very pleased to see an old thread revived. I'm so glad it's over.
RIP lovely Bruce.

It is easy 💰 money for rogue rescues-
Thousands can be raised in a very short time.

I used to donate to some, but the pleading for money was never ending- I had some private messages saying “Not to donate” to one in particular as “It funds a lifestyle choice of the person who set it up and keeps her in a rather nice life- “
There are some “Good” rescues, but these are registered charities and have a long list of Trustees.

@stonecoldbitch

what do you have to say now then?

Might be worth resurrecting the complaint, plus flagging that page to trading standards and the charity commission

I am so glad it is over for you. I understand that the firm is closed but I wonder could you still put an complaint into the Law Society (or Uk version) about anyone who's name is on any documents or director of firm etc. Just in case they start a new firm or go elsewhere

I am wondering if the ‘vet nurse’ on your group chat really was a vet nurse or part of this scam?

Also, can you talk to your ‘friend’ about how they found out about this dog? You need to build up a picture if what happened for your defence.

Shame your group chat has gone as it sounds like they mislead you into believing you were adopting so you spent all that money whilst they didnt follow through with paperwork and deleted the discussion.

However, the fact that you spent all that money points to a belief that you thought it was your dog or you would have claimed for reimbursement or expected them to pay.

@MGMidget you might want to read the whole thread or at least OPs updates as this has been to court.