Hello, everyone, Mom Nora here borrowing the blog from the kitties to share some news, extend my apologies and offer advice.
In 2006 and 2007, the cats and I encouraged our friends and their beans to support an organization we had found called Cats With No Name. It was located in Pine Grove, PA. We were saving the weight circles from our Purina One to donate to the organization, who would then receive donations of food and/or cash from Purina.
At that time, there were several comments left by people from that area who accused the owner of Cats With No Name of misappropriation, abuse of animals, lying, etc. I did what research I could through Google. I found only accusations, no charges filed or convictions made. I emailed the owner, Virginia Kresge Justiniano, and offered her the opportunity to respond. I posted her response on our blog. I encouraged you to do your own research into any organizations you would choose to support, but I had decided that she seemed ok to me and I continued sending our Purina circles for a while, but stopped after a while, I think we had switched to another food for a while.
Today, while going through old posts and comments, I came across comments left on that post from earlier this summer. I only wish that the commenters had left their notes on one of our current posts so I could have made this post sooner.
Virginia Kresge Justiniano and her fiance Andy J. Oxenrider have been charged and convicted of multiple, multiple counts of animal cruelty and drug possession. There are news stories from 2009 and 2010 with details. You can find them by googling her name. I can't post them here, they're too horrible.
I can't tell you how sick I feel about all of this. My mind is reeling with questions that will never be answered about how this could happen, how she got away with these things for so long, and on and on.
My heart breaks for the kitties and other animals who were victims of her cruelty, as well as for the humans who turned their beloved animals over to her because they couldn't care for them any longer.
Please thoroughly research any organization that you consider donating money or anything else to. Check with the Better Business Bureau, make sure they can offer a copy of an annual report or tax return, have 501(c)3 non-profit organization status and do anything else you can think of to make sure they are sparkly clean and honest. Don't give cash and make sure you get a receipt for any amount you donate.
I am so sorry that I encouraged my friends to support these awful people in any way. I hope you can forgive me. Most of all, I hope the kitties who truly have no names can forgive me.
Nora
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11 comments:
I think we all want to think the best of people. I cannot imagine anyone being upset with you for believing that an organization and people do what they say. I am sad to hear about this and sad that there were probably far better uses for the donations. However, we do the best with what we know at the time. Purrs to you and our hopes that this will not stop you from sharing your generosity with others.
We don't know anything about this, but you are in no way responsible for the crimes--legal and moral and ethical--that these people committed.
You know, here in Canada there have been two recent cases where young women pretended to have cancer (one of them has been much in the news, she shaved her head and starved herself), to take money from unsuspecting kind-hearted people. The people who donated did so out of generosity and caring and the disgusting crimes of the two young women in no way reflect on any donor.
Just as this situation does not reflect on you in any way.
(((Hugs))) and Peace to you.
Don't be kicking yourself, you were trying your best to help the helpless, that is very admirable indeed. I know you feel bad but it is them not you!
it is a shame that there are people in this world that take advantage of others generosity. you were not the one who committed the crimes - they committed a crime against you by tricking you into believing they were good people with good hearts.
this just reinforces my belief that the cat bloggers at the CB have kind caring hearts and would do anything in their power to help another creature from harm.
Yes, what everycat has said above. Would suggest you change your blog settings to receive an email message every time a comment is left. That way you will always be on top of what is said. But the reason folks like her get away with what they do for so long is because they are very good at being believable. Your heart was in the right place.
oh MomNora {{HUGS}} you are a beautiful person with a beautiful heart and we are just so sorry that these awful people misrepresented themselfs to you. In no way is it your fault for supporting them and no one blames your or is mad at you!!!
Well I think that can happen to anyone. It is a great idea to research anyone that you are giving money to. Even with the research, it is hard to tell who is honest and who isn't. Not your fault.
Take care.
You did the best that you could. While we would all love to think that people doing public good are above board, sometimes they aren't. None of us have a crystal ball to know when they are going to go off the tracks - and we can't be responsible for their decisions. The best we can do is our own research, choose groups that are doing some good and seem to be above board and then move on if something changes.
You never have to apologize for trying to do something good. Thanks for posting an update about this group. You are a Good person!
You don't hafta apologize. You thought you were doing the right thing. Humans can be very deceiving. Sad, but true.
Thanks for letting us know about these evil people.
Don't beat yourself up. Most beans usually think the best of people until shown otherwise.Now they have shown their true colors. Purrs to you.
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