At the time of my admittance to the board, Nancy Laporta-Brown informed me that my treasury position was to only include donations and charitable donations. Several donors have asked why they have not received their tax letters for charitable donations, for their tax papers, and I have no record of such donation even being made. I have never seen a financial statement, nor been provided the means to create one.
To which leads me to the next item, salaries. Repeatedly stated, no one at Full Moon Farm, Inc. receives a salary, and yet, in the next breath, Nancy Laporta-Brown states she has not received an income since 2009(or 2004, depending on statements and/or emails made by Miss Brown) This holds no credibility when Miss Brown lives in a very nice house, drives a well maintained vehicle, purchases organic, natural foods, pays her electric bill, has internet access, 4 separate phone lines, eats out a minimum of 4 times a week, ext, ext. Questions are raised without explanation.
There is no financial accountability, the farm files a 990, which basically means, the monies made are stated, not fact. All cash donations are held by Miss Brown, and only Miss Brown, who is accountable to no one. This does not mean, Miss Brown can not be paid by Full Moon Farm, Inc. for the work provided, but, it does mean that an honest, up front salary is created, and a paycheck issued, weekly. At this point, a CPA should be in charge of the treasury job at Full Moon Farm, Inc.
Personal friends of mine have made substantial donations to Full Moon Farm, Inc., and those donation were not used as received for. Example: Michele donated $340.00, pursuant to a plea posted on Facebook, in regards to animal spay and neuters. The only animal neutered was Daegen. The others are still intact. No explanation for why no other animal was spayed/neutered, as the money was directed for. It is disheartening and to me, dishonest as I inadvertently accepted money for a specific need, and that need went unmet.
Everything I have done for Full Moon Farm, Inc. was honest, upfront, and done with compassion for the dogs residing on your property. After my home burned down, I donated $100 dollars to FMF for the dog food tags that burned, I paid my $200 for Board Insurance(which is still not purchased, and I am no longer part of) I also gave an additional $200 for the used printer that was given to me by Miss Brown for FMF work, and burned in the fire.
I received no acknowledgment nor receipt of this. I have been unable to write a grant during my time with FMF, due to the following: No Financial Statements Goals Detailed plans for reaching granting goals Breakdown of what the grant will be used for Long term sustainability of funding As well as no yearly budgets. Animal care, is another issue I am going to speak of. We have daily check sheets, to which, no one reads. Miss Brown frequently misses issues regarding mobility, eating, bowels or behavioral issues, due to lack of due diligence.
Dakota is case in point. Dakota's condition was verbal as well as written, by multiple volunteers, myself included. No veterinairy care was provided until it was to late to save the dog. A golf ball size tongue tumor does not appear overnite. The amount of discomfort to try and swallow food, drink, or as we all saw, swallow your own saliva, must have been incredible. It was ignored, and if you believe Miss Brown, FMF's veterinarian also ignored it.
I spoke with my personal vet, and he stated that a call in regards to any animal, drooling, would have been an immediate office visit, not dose and run, as he called it.
This leads me to the next issue, practicing veterinary medicine with out a license. Not only is this a Class 1 Misdemeanor, it runs per count. Meaning every act is prosecuted as a separate act, ten pills, ten counts, ten illness' missed, another ten counts, ext, ext. Add to this, not one person on FMF property is a licensed veterinarian, none have the knowledge or training, persuent to the law, to diagnose and treat a medical condition. Sadly, something as simple as, dosing an animal, without an accurate weight, and you are doing more damage than not.
Now, we also have animals that you do not need to be a veterinarian to see something is seriously wrong. Animals with hip dysplasia, watching them move is painful, an animal covered in tumors and showing signs of mange, coats that are matted and filthy, open lesions and hot spots, allergies untreated, severe ear damage from flies, fleas, ticks, ext. When asked about prevention, the comment to mow the lawn to prevent ticks, high contents are not bothered by fleas, and the untouchables can't be treated.
What is the quality of life? We are responsible for not only their basic needs, but enrichment and socialization. This is not mercy, it is neglect.
The sheer number of animals is one of the biggest factors within your problems. There are mental issues with several red zone animals. Autumn can only be handled by two people, if one comes once a week, she is lucky. That means she spends 312 days alone (if not more). There are so many animals on this property, there is no time to finish all chores for care and to socialize with the animals. If you give each of the 83 animals on the property ten minutes, that equates to 13 hours in one day, for one person.
There are no standards for adoptions or outtakes for animals that should not be at a sanctuary. No standard of care, or euthanasia guidelines. Instead, an Animal Communicator tells FMF when an animal is ready to end its life. Instead of allowing a veterinarian to educate you on that animals quality of life and treatment options.
There are also personal animals housed at FMF. Banjo was purchased at 9 days old, Aries was 4 months old. These were pups, chosen by Miss Brown, to be owned and cared for, as her own animals. The 501(c)3 now provides all care for both animals. 3 unreported dog bites have occurred in the last 4 months. This is a $500 dollar fine, per bite, along with misdemeanor charges, and possible other legal issues, as all bites are to be recorded and all animals quarantined, per the state of North Carolina.
This is a sanctuary, and needs to be run in the best interest for the animals you choose to accept and care for. Quality versus Quantity. It was my hope that FMF went to the next level, with a strong board, people working together and animals receiving the care they deserve. The continued lies, rumors, deception, drama, ext, have made it clear, that the past will continue into the future.
The appalling care of the caretaker, was the final straw. Working from dawn until well after dark, verbal abuse, no money, many times no food, no running water, no heat, ext, all while, a perfectly habitable apartment is 300 feet away. Then, to turn him into a sordid, lie filled story, to make you look better, even more disgusting.
That was the moment I was done. You have lost several good volunteers, ones there for the right reasons, along with the support of people who not only donated, but also validated your reputation, myself included. That is over now. What I see happening at FMF upsets me on not only an emotional level, but a moral one, as well. I will do what I can to see these animals are cared for in the was they deserve and need.
On a legal note, we are all potentially facing serious trouble for our knowledge and lack of follow through with reporting. At the end of the day, it is about those dogs, and that is it. Do the right thing by them, even if it means swallowing your pride, spite and hate. Those dogs have no choice in what you DO get to choose for them.