This donation solicitation newsletter went out to PetRescue's email lists and via social media channels this morning.
Lovely, no? But the fundraiser came as a shock to someone - the rescue group who paid for and adopted out this pet.
PetRescue paid nothing towards the care of Luna. They did not consult Guardian Angel Animal Rescue - the rescue group who cared for her - whether they were ok with them using her as a fundraising ambassador, with all funds being banked to PetRescue. PetRescue has never even met this dog. Yet is using her as a national corporate fundraiser with their partner Woolworths.
How is that #RespectingRescue?
If you would like to help the group who actually helped this dog, please consider giving to Guardian Angel Animal Rescue (SA).
(A post from her care back in 2016).
Update 29 June
For those following the story of PetRescue's latest fundraiser - where they used a story of a pet to fundraise for themselves, without asking the rescue group who cared for the pet whether they were ok with this, PetRescue have this morning apologised.
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Just kidding! They doubled-down and told the rescue who complained that PetRescue was equally important to the process of this adoption, as the rescue group was.
Well, back in early 2017, PetRescue wrote the story up and put it out once before. They described an adopter who reached out to a rescue group for a pet called Lilly.
Lilly was adopted by her foster care. (So no PetRescue involvement there).
The rescue group (Guardian Angel Animal Rescue) then being rather savvy about it, suggested another dog - Luna.
Based on this recommendation FROM THE RESCUE GROUP Luna found a home.
(With a very, very small PetRescue involvement. Like really small.)
"... Noeleen reached out to PetRescue to thank us personally for helping her find Luna. We chose to publish her lovely story because it beautifully illustrates the value that PetRescue brings to every human who needs to make their lives feel whole again...."
I think PetRescue is actually pretty right here. This story very accurately demonstrates their level of actual involvement in the process. That the rescue group rescues the pet, saves the pet, treats the pet, cares for the pet, and then rallies like crazy to find the pet a home. Sometimes PetRescue gets a whiff of involvement and then they work to turn this into a financial return for themselves.
Rescue groups should stand together in expressing that this is not ok.
See also
- PetRescue tests out the ethical limits of fundraising. Again
(December 9, 2017) - PetRescue tests out the ethical limits of fundraising
(August 23, 2017)