Complaint Review: Melissa Impens - Burlington Wisconsin

Everything reported in this story is true. Penelope Shaw Ashenhurst's, et al, PayPal Account was frozen. One vet in NC has been left with a bill for medical services rendered in excess of $75,000.

For over a year, individuals associated with reputable rescues have attempted to shut Penelope (Penny) Shaw Ashenhurst and her partners in deception down. She lives in Europe - South Wales, UK. She also has a Geneaology Website, Cat Rescue Website. Formally had two websites on Face Book regarding the rescue issues in this report. 

There is FB reference regarding her request for money on voices.yahoo.com: "Penelope Shaw Ashenhurst, an animal activist, has created a Facebook page, "Operation Tom Cat - Help Bring My Thomas Back to Health" for an urgent request for the pet to ...voices.yahoo.com/pet-news-6220342.htm. Check out: http://alegalknot.wordpress.com/2012/05/22/powabunga-crazy/. Ask yourselves, why would an individual in the UK be rescuing animals in the US? Ask about the donations given in good faith to Penny Ashenhurst, et al. Ask about the money funneled to her in the UK prior to PayPal freezing her account? Does IRS know about this money? To my knowledge, none of the money received was reported. NOT ENOUGH WARNINGS CAN BE GIVEN regarding Penny Ashenhurst and Motley Crew.

In January 2012, Penny and Motley Crew filed, what I feel is a frivolous Slap Suit against honest and decent friends in rescue (NC):

Case 1:12-cv-00074-RHB Doc #1 Filed 01/25/12 - Penelope Shaw Ashenhurst, Melissa Impens, Mary Jo Thomas and Seven Star Sanctuary, Inc (MI) for Defamation of Character. I thought we had Freedom of Speech in this country? No one that I know defamed them. They did it to themselves.

Could this be an attempt to extort money to pay their deliquent vet bills? I so hope this goes to trial. It would clear our friends of any wrongdoing. In addition, it will require Penny to fly across the pond to USA. Defendants have the right to face their accusers. Will Penny set up a FB page asking for donations for airfare and accomodations?

I do question the attorney filing this suit. One would think he would have pressing legal issues to attend to? Wait, I remember now. An individual in this is law office knows the Plaintiffs. And, is chummy with this attorney.

To all those individuals who do believe Penny? Open your eyes, now. See who Penelope Shaw Ashenhurst, et al, is really about.

See them for, what I feel, is their shameless scam perpetuated by greed.

If you choose to pass judgement, please take the time to inform yourself with the facts first. 

rescue/'reskyo?o/

Noun: An act of saving or being saved from danger or distress.

What is irresponsible here are the constant accusations that we are in this for anything more than saving the lives of helpless animals who have the dire misfortune of finding themselves in these rural North Carolina shelters.  There is absolutely no money to be made in animal rescue and there is not a single one of those of us named that is in any way shape or form profitting from this.  The only ones we hope to see come out of this ahead of the curve are the animals

"They are taking them so they will not be "killed" and worrying about raising the money and finding homes later !! So the animals suffer. "  Yes we are taking them so they will not be killed, but we are not worrying about raising the money until later.  This is an ongoing worry for us.  To pull just one adult dog from this shelter costs us approximately $300-$400 dollars depending on the veterinary facility that has the space to house the animals that we save from this shelter.  Of that money, PayPal takes 5%, we have to pay the shelter $10 for every animal pulled, we have to pay someone to transport the animals from the shelter to the veterinary facility $12.50 per dog (prices vary if animals can be transported together such as puppies from the same litter or a family of cats and kittens).  These animals once at the veterinary facilities receive the appropriate vaccinations and tests including FIV/FELV testing, Heartworm and Lyme disease testing and flea and tick treatments.  Along with the the above services, the monies that we raise via ChipIns, also covers up to 10 days of boarding, as that is the minimum amount of time required by the reputable and licensed transports that we use to get these animals onto rescues/fosters and adopters who for the most part are along the Eastern Seaboard.  Some do indeed go to more Midwestern states in which case requires more funding or volunteer transport. 

Not one of these animals transported out of state has ever left the state of North Carolina without a Health Certificate, which can only be issued by a licensed veterinarian who deems these animals to be healthy and free of contagious disease. 

"This has been confirmed in dogs recemtly delivered to Wisconsin, Michigan, Kentucky, and Iowa."
Again, another false allegation.  I will say it again...We have never sent an animal across North Carolina state lines without a Health Certificate that can only be issued by a North Carolina licensed veterinarian. 

"Here is a story about one recent situation. http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/parvo-outbreak-threatens-to-shut-down-rescue-organization "  This rescue made the very bad decision to take these animals out of North Carolina without Health Certificates on their own.  We did not help them do this, suggest that they do this or condone this act of poor judgement. 

"The "Irresponsible Rescuers" refuse to provide adopters with any financial assistance for any of the medical bills incurred. The new pet owners are on their own !! "   Again, another false statement.  If we are made aware of any medical issues that arise after an adopter receives an animal, we do our very best to offer and aid in obtaining whatever assistance they may need by offering to raise funds or finding alternative placement for the animal if need be. 

"Funds appear to be misused on a regular basis. It has been reported that the "rescuers" are engaging in illegal internet fund raising activities. The Donations are not deductible and Penny Ashenhurst, Melissa Impens, Julie Cameron, Mary Thomas and others have refused to provide an accounting for the funds that have been donated. They also refused to provide an accounting for how the donated funds were spent. In other words, Penny and her pals refuse to provide any income and expense information to the public or to the donors."   More irresponsible allegations.  The majority of our fundraising is done via ChipIns and all of the links and updates can be found in our weekly albums of the animals in need at CCAC at the following site and many more like it.      http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.175010952563181.46317.100001628311522   and many others that we set up on a weekly basis.  From these pages, updates as to monies needed and monies paid out are made regularly as we have always strived to be as transparent as glass, especially when it comes to the generous donations that we receive to save these animals.  We have never and never will refuse to provide accounting for our donated funds.  It is all there for anyone to view at any time. 

"The majority of these donation seeking accounts are run by people that do not have an IRS approved 501c3 organization."   Ahhh...finally a somewhat truthful statement.  No we do not currently operate under a 501c3 to my knowledge, but we are in the process of obtaining this status .  There is nothing illegal about not operating under a 501c3 and many animal rescue organizations do not have this status.  Obtaining this status takes about 2-3 months and as I said we are in this process not only so that our donors can take advantage of the tax benefits, but also so that we can try to prevent these types of allegations in the future. 

" http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Help-Bring-Smokey-Home/226174764078258 Smokey taken by "Irresponsible Rescuers" 5/25/2011 These same "Irresponsible Rescuers" have deprived a family in Columbus County, NC  of their dog named Smokey. These individuals conspired to deprive the McPherson family of their dog/property and did not act according to the code of animal rescue ethics.  These people  took Smokey from the CCAC shelter in NC. They were advised by the owner that they wanted Smokey returned to them. The "Irresponsible Rescuers" refused to return Smokey to his owners and in fact conspired with Cynthia Burnett, a local vet, to hide him. And that was after Melissa Impens told the owners where Smokey was and that they could get him back by paying the vet bill. When the McPherson's arrived at the vets office to pay the bill, Smokey had been hiden by the Cynthia Burnett, DVM and Rosy Kirby. Was this because Smokey is a purebred Austrailan Shepherd ? Whatever the reason, this was an underhanded, unethical and unprofessional act. Melissa Impens and the "Irresponsible Rescuers" caused the family to suffer a great deal.  And this has been particularly hard on their children.  The "Irresponsible Rescuers"  also inflicted unnecessary stress on Smokey who has also been victimized by their actions.  "Rescue Ring" had Smokey after the McPhersons were told they could go to the vets office and pick him up. Mrs. McPherson stated,  "My family is having a hard time understanding how one person in Wisconsin can pass  judgment on a family in NC. What experience and by what authority is she allowed to do that  to us and to Smokey. We are heartsick" 

Here are the plain and simple facts regarding this unfortunate story:  "Smokey" was brought into Columbus County Animal Control (CCAC) as a stray on or about 5/16/2011.  Smokey sat out the mandated 72-hour stray hold and then became the legal property of Columbus County, North Carolina on 5/19/2011.  Smokey was not adopted and his owners did not come to reclaim him as of 5/19/2011 and would have been put to sleep on the morning of 5/20/2011 had we not legally adopted him from CCAC.  It was on or about 6/3/2011 that I received a phone call from one of the shelter workers who had been speaking with the people believed at that time to be Smokey's previous owners.  These people at this point had gone into Animal Control to "get a cat".  They did not go into Animal Control to look for their dog.  The McPherson's by their own admission did not have any vet records on Smokey to prove that he was indeed their dog, as he had never been to a vet in his 4 years of life.  While they have recently stated that this dogs vaccines were bought at the local feed store, the fact is that rabies vaccines can only be given by a vet.  Proof of rabies vaccination is the law in this county.  This family failed to look for their dog in well over a months' time also by their own admission.  I did have a wonderful family interested in adopting Smokey and in light of the information that I received by Smokey's original owners, I felt it to be in the best interest of Smokey to go to a home where he would get the essential vet care and not be allowed to roam and be subjected to the many dangers that roaming can create. 

The bottom line here is that what is irresponsible here is the fact that we have been attacked by this same group of people about Smokey, ChipIns, and transport of "sick" animals for going on 2 months now.  In that time, far too much time has been wasted having to defend the good that we are doing.  There is a group of 12 volunteers that volunteer time online to network these animals and try to raise the necessary funds to ultimately get them into situations where they will be loved and valued family members.  Of that group of 12, myself and Ms. Ashenhurst spend the majority of our days, most often upwards of 12 hours per day, most weeks without a day away from it, doing what is necessary to save these animals.  If there is money to be made in this type of venture, there has got to be a much easier way!  This is a labor of love for all involved with the rescuing of animals from Columbus County Animal Control.  We have many success stories that we would be more than happy to share with anyone who would like to hear them.  We are more than happy to offer refunds and to tell any donor exactly on what and where their donations were used.  The vet's offices we use will also gladly accept donations over the phone or by check.  ChipIn is not our only way we offer to donate.  All anyone ever has to do is look in the appropriate places or simply ask and we will be happy to answer any and all of your questions. 

Those that have been attacking what we do believe that rescue should be done one way....Their Way and are extremely closed-minded about anyone who defers from what they believe that to be.  It is our stand that dead is dead, you can't ever take that back and many of the animals taken to various Animal Control facilities throughout the country are victims of economic times and just unwanted.  They are wonderful animals that deserve the chance to be valued family members and that is all we are trying to provide for them, but this goal requires funds and often time begging for donations is the only way we can do this. 

Thank You for taking the time to inform yourself and if donating money is not how you want to help an animal, please give of your time.  There are many shelters throughout the country that are under-staffed.  Donate a bag of food to your local shelter.  Better yet, just adopt a shelter pet. 

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