The executive director and founder of Pet Save is concerned that recent police reports of people pretending to fundraise for the animal rescue organization will harm a recently-launched $500,000 capital campaign.
Jill Pessot said concerned would-be donors have been phoning her since Greater Sudbury Police put out a press release about the scam earlier this week. She said she had no knowledge of the scam until a friend saw the story in the media.
The press release said one donor tried to send $900 intended for Pet Save by Western Union to Nigeria. The only reason the money was intercepted and returned to the donor is because Western Union had a watch on this file as there have been many victims world-wide.
Police warned all those who wish to support such organizations to do so through accredited verifiable support groups and to take extra precautions to ensure their hard earned money reaches its intended recipients.
Pessot said Pet Save, which was founded in 2000 and run entirely by volunteers, does all of its work locally. People should be suspicious of anyone asking donors to send money for Pet Save to a foreign country, she said.
The registered charity recently launched a "buy a brick" fundraising initiative for their capital campaign. Individual donors can purchase $50 and $100 bricks, and corporate donors can purchase $500 bricks.
Forms to purchase bricks can be downloaded from the organization's website, www.petsave.ca or requested by phoning 692-3319.
Pessot hopes to have a new 4,000 square foot building put up by the end of the year. The bricks will be incorporated into the decor of the new building. There will also be an education room in the new facility, where potential pet owners will learn the importance of spaying and neutering animals.
The city is currently faced with a "cat homelessness epidemic," said Pessot. People need to realize that after three years, one unspayed female cat can multiply through her offspring until 7,000 more animals are produced from all the female offspring, she said.
The organization is also always looking for donations to their operating budget. It costs $250,000 per year to pay for food and veterinary care for the 1,000 animals that are cared for every year by Pet Save, she said.
Pet Save has a no-kill policy, said Pessot, which means that animals are not put down unless they are "medically irretrievable."
Thousands of dollars were recently spent on veterinary care for Garfield, a cat whose foot had to be amputated because his toes were damaged.
"The veterinarian said he's one of the nicest cats who ever came through the clinic," said Pessot.
The woman's heart has been captured by the story of an injured dog who was found in a ditch by a police officer on Highway 17.
Even though the dog could not walk, it continued to nurse its seven puppies, she said. The animal is currently being treated at the Walden Animal Clinic, said Pessot.
