Dogs Deserve Better Thayne / Grimes We, the former DDB reps want the truth told!!!! Smithfield, Virginia
The stories you are reading are true. Many of us former reps are afraid to go public, because we fear the repercussions of Tami, Tammy, Tamira Thayne / Grimes. QUOTES from two former DDB reps -
"The Nat'l Coordinator was Tami's heavy. Tami had NOTHING to do with the Reps. The ONLY time calling her was acceptable was when she had to okay medical services. Tami/the nat'l coordinator put pressure on the Reps about Vet services being "too expensive". And making an appt for a DDB dog to be Vetted was -always- an ordeal. Getting rescue dogs vetted became such a hassle that I paid for a few myself with my own money. I paid for everything involving the daily care of my fosters, with my own money. I couldn't rest knowing there was any dogs that went unchecked. I admit that I was blinded to Tami's absence because I was SO in love with the idea of helping chained dogs.
I was weary from having to explain and justify my actions and decisions as a Rep. So I quit. I couldn't over extend myself one more moment. Nor could I deal with anymore complaints from DDB. Of which 99% of complaints DDB would take to their Reps was money related. So that was it. And since then, there is NO help or attention for any of the chained dogs I was monitoring.
So my experience with DDB was negative throughout. And I saw Tami and DDB through rose colored glasses. But since then I've noticed the inadequacies more clearly. And when Tami bought that Vick house. And she put the Rep program on "hold" so she could focus her time and MONEY on this property..... Well I knew then DDB was not going in the right direction. The Rep program is the vital link between the dogs suffering in backyards, and the help they so desperately need."
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"I was sad to leave, because I thought the cause was an honorable one, but didn't realize the reputation the organization has. I left because I don't agree with the organization's ethics and business practices. Since learning how they do business, I have definitely learned HOW NOT to run a Not-for-Profit Organization. I spent way too much of my own money on "their" dogs without receiving much back from the donations I solicited from them... sounding familiar? I could have over looked it a bit IF I didn't receive hundreds of vulgar hate e-mails during my final few days being an Area Rep for them, - I quit. Then I saw the people and the organization for what it was; sensationalist propaganda and sue-happy snarks."
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Former DDB Rep
United States of AmericaMy DDB Experience...
#3Author of original report
Mon, June 25, 2012
"Apparently she had her favorites... I was with DDB as a Rep for three years. I started considering leaving after I had so much trouble with her paying for vet bills she promised they would pay and reimbursing me for vet bills that I had paid for out of my pocket that I had gotten "pre approval" for. Also the extreme unprofessionalism from so many of the area "Reps" was too much to handle any more. The thing that forced me to resign was when she wanted me to sign a new and updated form of the liability waiver. I can understand the need to protect the rescue, but I can't understand not protecting those that go to bat for the rescue and the dogs every single day. I told her no I wouldn't sign and if that meant resigning, so be it. She laughed at me and told me how ignorant I was. That DDB couldn't carry insurance for the rescue because they were technically an educational organization, or some whooha mumbo jumbo. I told her that DDB never sticks it's neck out for me and I wasn't willing to do so for DDB any longer. I told her I would take liability for all the remaining foster dogs in my care and just walk away. I already knew I couldn't count on DDB to help with any of the foster dogs I had in my care anyway. Only one rep ever bothered to help me. I saw what happened to other DDB reps that left with still having foster dogs in their homes. Nothing happened to help those dogs. DDB doesn't care about the dogs. I'm not going to say who, but at the end when I left, things were getting pretty desperate in my state. Reps were even doing adoptions without home checks. They were just taking the adopters word for it and letting the dogs go. I was told, the higher DDB adoption numbers are the better their chances for bigger and better grants. WHEW! And that is that! I'm sure there is so much more I could get into.... It's almost theraputic to vent that a little bit!"
D
Litchfield,Illinois,
United States of America
My DDB Experience
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Mon, June 25, 2012
I enjoyed my time as a DDB Rep, employee and volunteer. I found it very helpful to have this organization backing me when rescuing. I purposely tried to raise my own funding so that the organization would not suffer. I knew it was a small organization trying to grow. Still, DDB stepped in and paid for vetting any and every time I couldn't, even though I would have preferred to do this myself.
I have not had the same experience as those I have read about here. I am proud of my work for DDB. I am ecstatic about the acquisition of Vick's property and am more than willing to help see this dream become a reality.
I am grateful to Tamira Ci Thayne and DDB, as I am sure all the hundreds of dogs rescued during the time I was with them are also grateful to be living in happy, loving, inside, adoptive homes. Thank you.