Dogs Deserve Better, Inc.

I rescued a dog from a home where she was neglected. I did my best to take care of her and we bonded very fast. I visited AGWC Rockin Rescue in woodland hills, CA 10 days ago hoping to get some information of how to take care of her in better way as I work full time. Fabian and Bari made sure to ask me to sign a paper which I did not read as I was sobbing and basically I did not have any legal rights anymore. I told them before signing that I will foster the dog myself but again they stole my dog from me by asking me to leave her there for people to visit her and they follow up with spay and medication management and told me I have to cancel the appointment with my personal vet. I asked them to return the dog begged and cried. my relative who is an attorney called them and asked them to return the dog as she was my emotional support dog. they transferred him to founder of the pace who is "Ady Gil". he made sure to humiliate me and my relative. my relative suggested me how he was treated and told me that Ady Gil wants to talk to me too. "Ady gil" made sure to destroy me via phone contact. he suggested me to kill myself as no one cares about me and my dog was his dog now and I do not have any rights. I begged him and told him that I will what he is asking for this dog (which their fees are insane) but he made sure to call me emotionally unstable and suicidal. I have never had any type of this treatment in USA as we have right in this country. He wrote on the Facebook page for the pubic and informed me as suicidal and said that my attorney and boss called to tell him that. I am very respectful psychologist who works for LA county. he insulted me, my boss and attorney and it is not forgivable. I witnessed my dog being unattendant when the staff left and she was there by herself from 5 PM till when that I do not know next day. they do not let me see the dog and I am very emotionally hurt. I am following up with all action needed to make sure everyone is aware of this man and his rescue place. pls help me.

Was very excited at the potential adoption of a beautiful female mix. Got the initial email back then eventually got to set up a phone interview. Unfortunately my Dr. appointment ran a lot later than it was suppose to and I had a hair appointment after that I rushed to. I got the call while my hair was being cut and asked if she could call back in 15 minutes and apologized. She politely asked that I just email her again and reschedule. Two days after I sent my schedule I was emailed that my application was being denied. I am trying to understand why this circumstance stops an organization from continuing the process for a home with a large fenced in yard, an open house, and a loving family with dog experience that would provide walks and all the belly rubs ever wanted. I'm appalled and disappointed. I thought organizations did everything in their power to home these dogs so they could continue to rescue. I'm sorely disappointed.

We can never say thank you enough to Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. as receiving the Hero Grant helped us not only be able to save Diamond from a life outside in a small pen to a wonderful happy inside home, but financially enabled us to save even more. DDB is an incredible organization who goes above and beyond to help.

Dogs Deserve Better helped my newly rescued dog finally have the life he deserves! With their contribution, we were able to have treatment done to get rid of my dogs's heartworm. Now, he has the opportunity to live a much longer, healthier life with us! Thank you so much for your generosity and your huge hearts. These animals and families are so blessed to have your help!

I can not express my gratitude for a program as great as dogs deserve better, because of assistance programs like ddb My rescued dogs have a chance at a happy healthy life.. I will forever be grateful for you all as well as deuce and dazzle... again thank you so much

After rescuing several chained dogs in the middle of winter, I was left feeling in over my head with all of the vet bills. I applied for the Hero Fund with Dogs Deserve Better and I heard back within several days- I received the grant! They were helpful, quick to respond, and easy to communicate with. I am very appreciative of their help!

How amazing Dogs Deserve Better is ! The day we picked up Droopy he was emaciated and hanging on to life on a chain and in the mud. We had no ideal how we would get him the needed vet care. He had sores on all pressure points and you could not recognize even his breed. His owner will be prosecuted for animal abuse. But you know what, Droopy is gonna have a wonderful life. Dogs Deserve better knew his circumstances, and the next day we had him to a vet to get the care we needed for him to survive. A week later he is better and eating and healing and in a good soft bed. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. His sores are healing, he is gaining strength and he is doing some "big time" eating. He would not have survived without your help. Thank you for this wonderful organization and for your promptness in getting him vetted. He is an amazing dog, and you are amazing for helping him!

When I was planning to help a penned neighborhood dog, the local rep from DDB was incredibly helpful in advising me and a friend on how to handle the situation. She also alerted me to the Hero Grant, on the chance that I was able to rescue the dog. Well, I got the dog and the Hero Grant which covered a nice portion of the pup's vet bill for tests and de-worming. Not sure how I would've paid those expenses otherwise. Thanks, DDB!!!

I am the co-founder of a small rescue in Delaware. We are always getting requests to accept dogs. While we'd like to take them all we can't because we wouldn't be able to afford to give them all the care they deserve. This past week we were contacted about two dog desperately needing rescue. Both were forced to live outside and temperatures have recently dropped to freezing. We agreed to take them and because of Dogs Deserve Better, have been able to fully vet both of them. They are now both available for adoption, this wouldn't have been possible without this wonderful organization.
Thank you so much!!!

What a simply amazing organization. They have personally helped me rescue a puppy who spent all 6 months of his life at the end of a rusty chain. They were quick to respond with financial support. Thank you to Tamira and all Hero Fund supporters! You are making such a difference.

Dogs Deserve Better is a non-profit that helps rescue chained and penned dogs. We found Gracie on November 8th 2014. She was starving and had the end of a tie out cable still attached to her collar. Gracie has a long road to recovery ahead of her. She is in need of many veterinary services including treatment for parasites, heartworms and a full mouth extraction to remove her broken and rotting teeth. Providing this level of care for Gracie requires a substantial financial commitment; Dogs Deserve Better has been instrumental in providing financial assistance in order to get Grace the care she needs. We submitted our grant request to Dogs Deserve Better on November 16, 2014 and within a day, Dogs Deserve Better approved the request and had the grant amount credited to Gracie’s veterinary account. Dogs Deserve Better in an organization truly dedicated to its mission of dog rescue, this is an organization everyone should support!

It was brought to our (Legacy Dog Rescue) attention of a dog tied outside, 24/7 with minimal human interaction and his dog "house" was a dog carrier, which was always in two parts. In no way, could we leave him out there. We asked the owner to surrender and she claimed to love him, but that we was 'bad' in the house. We continued to ask her if we could help, we had the authorities out to check on him and see if he was licensed. She then contacted us and agreed to relinquish him. Sadly he was purchased at a puppy store a couple years ago, and has lived outside, with no vet care. He was extremely nervous at first, but has since calmed down is loving life in his foster home, playing with the other dog and enjoying rolling around on the bed! Dogs Deserve Better granted us the Hero grant to fully vet Dodger - what an amazing group, helping the dogs out there with no voice. Thank you!

They are an amazing group!! I adopted an american bulldog/border collie mix who had been abused and tied to a tree for months. He has some health isssues and needs to be fixed, and with the help of dogs deserve better I can take him to the vets without worrying. THANK YOU DOGS DESERVE BETTER!!!!

I can not say enough about the good that Dogs Deserve Better does to help chained and penned dogs! I am a rural mail carrier and noticed a pen on my route that contained a very small short haired Chihuahua. After seeing this dog for a while and knowing the weather would be turning cold I approached the owner and inquired about him. The Owner said his wife banned the dog to the outside pen after moving into a new home because of marking. He had not been neutered and I tried to educate them about the benefits but he said her mind was made up. I was able to get them to surrender the dog (now named Zachary)and brought him home on Saturday. He went to the vet on Tuesday to be neutered but it was learned the surgery would be more complicated (and expensive). He got his shots and was rescheduled for surgery on Thursday. All went well and he is recovering nicely. DDB paid the bills for Zachary's vet care. THANK YOU DDB!!! You Rock :)

What an incredible organization! DDB paid for the vet bills for a dog I rescued off a chain. I can only imagine how many dogs they've saved because of these services! Thank you, DDB and the Hero fund!

DDB has helped me free and spay/netuer chained and penned dogs on two occasions recently. On the first occasion, they launched an aggressive campaign on behalf on two dogs penned without shelter, suffering in the elements with little to no food and water. I have no idea how they lived through it. After 24 hours of phone calls and emails from DDW volunteers, the owner was cited with animal neglect and the dogs were no longer kept in the cages. Where I had no allies locally, the strong, kind-hearted and tenacious volunteers from across the globe acted as if this was happening in their own backyard.

On the second occasion, through the Hero Grant Fund, I was able to get three rescued chained dogs spayed and neutered. The fund provides $300 per dog to cover the cost of alteration, rabies, distemper, parvo shots, heart worm check or whatever you can get for that price. In my case, I was able to find a local spay/neuter clinic that operates largely on charity donations from the state license plate fund, Petsmart charities and other associations. Because of the reduced cost at this clinic, along with the Hero Fund, I was able to get three (3) spay/neuters, all the shots, heart worm checks, microchips and extra pain medication--all for $300 total. So 1 Hero Fund donation saved 3 lives in this case.

Here is why the spay/neuters literally "saved" three lives. The two male dogs were not neutered. It is my belief they broke off their chains to get to the third dog, a female in heat. Once in my house, it was chaos. I now had 7 large dogs. My dogs did not get along with the three off the street. All the male dogs wanted to do was hump the female. What made the situation more dangerous was that the two males had lots of fighting scars.They were large dogs and part pit bulls. Having observed their behavior, I surmised that the two boys were chained together. They were forced to compete for one food source and one water source. It was obvious there was never enough food or water. The boys had all the fighting scars of dogs forced to fight in pit fights. They may have been forced to fight other dogs, but I believe the two boys just fought each other.

In my house, all they wanted to do was hump the female. There was the constant threat they might fight each other. All they wanted to do was have sex with her and they never let up. She was forced to be crated most of the day and it was difficult to get her out of the crate and in to the yard without the boys forcing their way on top of her. My dogs responded to this aggressive energy. They were agitated and responding to the threat in their house. One of my neutered dogs started humping my newest young rescued female who had not yet had her first heat cycle. Keeping the males separated from the female at all times and away from my four dogs was a 24 hour nightmare. To make matters worse, I was unable to stop the males from having sex with her on the first day I had them.

I could not leave the house, I could not sleep long or well. I was worried about the neighbors possibly complaining about the barking, which was hard to control. I reached a near breaking point. It was so miserable, even as a former rescuer, I did not think I could continue this. I called animal control to inquire about them picking up the dogs. I came to the sober realization that the 2 boys with the fighting scars with most definitely not even be put up for adoption. They would deem them un-adoptable and kill them. The female would also not stand much of a chance. So I would be sending 3 dogs to their deaths. Even though they were not my dogs, I would be the one responsible for ending their lives.

Getting the dogs fixed was an immediate NECESSITY. It would ease the situation in the house significantly, so I could manage the dogs. If I could manage the dogs, then I could suck it up and foster the dogs until I could start searching for homes. That’s exactly what getting the spay/neuters did. It kept the dogs from being killed. I was able to manage them better. They are now friends with the female and don’t try to hump her. The house is calmer and manageable. I can’t think of a time where getting dogs fixed was absolutely necessary in saving their lives.

To complicate matters, I was unemployed and near broke at the time. There was no way I could afford the fixes. Because of the DDB Hero Fund and the excellent low cost spay/neuter clinic, I was able to get all three fixed with all shots, heart worm check, fecal exam and meds and microchips. Now all three have everything they need to be adopted out. They are 100% ready.

I am currently fostering these dogs and looking for forever homes. Each day things get a little easier in the routine. I mean this when I say that getting them fixed kept them from being sent to animal control. The situation was so dire. Now there is breathing room. The dogs are healing, gaining weight and receiving love.

I am the kind of person who puts himself out in the trenches, so to speak, to help animals. If you would like to support other people like me, then please donate money to the Hero Fund. It is such a great partnership. If you have money, but not the ability to rescue off the streets, you can be help people like me do this work. It’s not money you can’t trace. It directly changes lives and is measurable. I am not a man of much financial means. But I have the resilience to rescue dogs in the streets and care for them in my home. Financial donors help people like me help animals. Money and effort partnering is saving lives where and when we can.

Thank you to whoever has donated to the Hero Fund!!! You have saved three lives with $300 in my case. What a great charity!

Finally, Robin Budin at DDB has made all this happen. She picks up the phone, seven day a week whenever you call. She is relentless in her efforts to help the animals. She is so dedicated and always makes herself available to advise and help. She is the face of DDB to me. All the lives I have saved are attributed to her tireless efforts, warm heart and tenacity.

Wagon is one of many dogs that the American Lurcher Project has rescued from living outside on chains since August 20, 2013. The ALP Team is a group of people dedicated to saving the greyhound/coonhound racing dogs of underground racing. When we rescued Wagon in May of this year he was in poor physical shape and is still undergoing medical treatment to get him healthy and ready for adoption. Our vet bills and expenses were over $1,400 on Wagon. Thank you so very much Dogs Deserve Better for coming to the rescue and awarding us a grant to assist us with Wagon’s vet bills. Dogs Deserve Better responded very quickly to our urgent request and were very helpful. What a wonderful group of people and a wonderful mission!!!!

Thanks to Dogs Deserve Better Winnie who was tied with a rope and left in the woods will have a second chance at life.She was abandoned by the homeless person she lived with and was loyally laying beside the tent waiting for their return that never happened. She is being fostered now and will be up for adoption in the future. THANK YOU!!!!!

Thank you to DDB for helping assist my family with financial assistance for our new family member, Charlie. He was rescued from a chain and is living in a much better home now, where he is loved and spoiled! Process was very easy and we appreciate the support!

Robin Budin coordinated with me on a chained/abandoned dog rescue. She was unwavering in her commitment to seeing through the mission until the end. They raised funds to cover vet bills. And their resources and networking were phenomenal. I plan to follow Dogs Deserve Better for a long time to come and to support their very worthwhile efforts. Unchaining all the dogs in America is a huge task, but DDB is taking it on! I love that! I hope to bring that mission to my home state of Indiana.

My two awesome dogs were DDB rescues. The representatives I worked with for each adoption displayed levels of compassion and professionalism that we should all strive for. This world is a kinder and better place for our canine companions because of the efforts of exceptional folks like Tami, Sheila, and Robin. My pooches and I woof them very much for bringing us together! DDB ROCKS!

Dogs Deserve Better rescued 2 abandoned and neglected dogs when other rescues wouldn't even return an email, text, or phone call. Not only did they rescue the animals, but gave them both the highest quality of vet care which included a very expensive Cardiologist and prescription food. I've never witnessed a more generous and organized rescue than Dogs Deserve Better. Robin Budin was in contact constantly assuring that the details were all going as scheduled until the dogs were delivered to their foster dogs. A truly amazing and heartwarming experience .
Kitty Downs
Hoover, Alabama

Thanks Tammi for all you do! Clicky is enjoying my bed! Poor baby has the most endearing heart and a complete lack of pet manners. I'm glad to share her life.

A wonderful group that constantly puts itself on the front line, fighting for dogs who are simply helpless and at the mercy of their owners. I applaud this group for their efforts.

I have had to ask for help from DDB many times in the last several years, and I am constantly impressed with their dedication and follow through. Their representatives are unrelenting in their efforts to help dogs in trouble. They are immediately available when a crisis happens and do an amazing job of outreach to draw attention to dogs being neglected. Their biggest challenge, frankly, is the limitations in the laws which allow people to mistreat their animals. But DDB uses every resource available to get animals out of unhealthy situations. They are an incredible resource for the rescue community.

When I was referred to the website of Dogs Deserve Better, I thought it sounded too good to be true. But within just a day or two after submitting the needed information, I received an email from Tamiria saying that the two dogs I was attempting to rescue had been approved for veterinarian funding. My heart was full of joy that day. With the help of the funding my veterinarian received from this wonderful organization, I was able to get both dogs up to date on shots and neutered. This made it so much easier to place these wonderful dogs in a great home where I know they are being taken care of and loved. I would have still done this for these dogs, but it would have strapped me financially as I have 8 dogs of my own and do what I can to help our local rescues. These 2 dogs held a special place in my heart because I had been observing them for a year on these chains, trying to help the owners financially with food and housing for the dogs. But when the owners were evicted from their home, they had no choice but to give them up. Dogs Deserve Better made it possible for these 2 special dogs to live out their lives free from a chain and in good and loving homes.

I have known Tami for over 12 years, I volunteered for DDB also becoming a Dogs Deserve Better Rep for many years, I also ran a rescue and was Animal Cruelty Investigator for Delaware County. I had to step down and just work on my own rescue as I couldn't focus on one thing and the stress factor became to much. Working with Tami was uplifting, fair, firm and but most of all Tami always had your back. Last year I had 4 dogs that needed Major help, Tami helped them all with the Hero fund. One female Rott that was in deplorable shape, tied to a truck I could not get because it was out of state and we had to get her quick. Tami jumped in with both feet and got her vetting, back in shape and adopted to a wonderful home. One in particular I rescued was Teddy who lived on a chain for 14 years and now lives on my couch. I contacted Tami and without hesitation she sent my vet $300 from the Hero fund, that really helped with not only Teddy's expense but helps with the stress factor. Without the Hero fund many dogs would not be saved but mainly have all the proper vet care they need as usually the ones we get are hot messes anyway. Tami is the most driven, determined person I know and point blank... she is just about the dogs period. I think about not only all the dogs she has saved but the people she has help along the way through the Hero Fund. Tami and I have always had a great relationship but the trust we have for each other I have earned and proud to be her friend. Even though I do not work for Tami anymore in her yearly calendars she always puts a dog our organization rescues in which really makes me feel pretty damn special. I recently rescued a rott tied to a tree, with an embedded collar, 40 pounds underweight, HW positive, full of worms, ear mites and just a hot mess and Tami was right there for me. Tami doesn't forget the good you do and I have nothing but admiration and respect for her and for that.... I will always have her back.
Sincerely, Gayla Frances Evans---President and Founder of Ohio Rottweiler Rescue

Dogs Deserve Better has been a wonderful help to Gordy and Friends, a small outreach group in Upstate NY. We provide straw and food and help to 24/7 chained and penned dogs. When possible, we get dogs permanently off the chain, but since we are all volunteers and pay for almost everything out of our own pockets, it is very difficult to come up with vetting costs. DDB just provided us with a Hero Grant of $300 to help get a dog that was chained NINE YEARS vet care. We spent all but $16 at the first appointment, so we certainly could not have done this without DDB. They responded so quickly to us and helped us so enormously. We had no idea about his health condition and wanted to get him help quickly. We applied and got a response and the funds in a matter of days. I can't say enough good things about DDB, and we are very grateful to them for all they do for dogs everywhere and for what they did for us.

My journey with Tami and DDB started about 2 1/2 years ago when I first met Liesa Collier who is a volunteer rescue worker. She rescued 2 dogs that were left without food, water and shelter in a slum area in my town after being abandoned by their owner. One was a terrier mix chained under a trailer and the other a Pit Bull chained to a picnic table. Liesa made daily 40 mile round trips for about 2 weeks until the Pit Bull finally trusted her enough to allow her to take them both into her care. However, there were other dogs in the same area that were chained without proper shelter and lacking food and water. None of them had ever been to a vet for vaccine shots, let alone to be spayed or neutered. Over the next several winter months, I helped Liesa by taking food and straw to the dogs every 3-4 days. Two families moved and gladly signed over the dogs to DDB. Without the monetary help of DDB those dogs would not have been vetted, spayed and neutered and re-homed into loving families.

Since that time I have come across many pathetic cases of dogs on 3-5 foot chains, many in full sun with little to no shelters - again no food or water. I call Liesa and she always gets to my location as soon as possible to help. She tries to educate the owner but mostly the owners are glad to sign over the dogs to DDB just to get rid of them. This is how I came across Duke, a mini Beagle, with a cherry eye chained to a dog house. His chain was so short he barely got into his dog house. The owners said they could not afford the vet bills, so gladly signed him over to DDB and I became his foster mom and then his adopted mom which would not have been a possibility without the financial help of DDB. About 5 months after Duke became a part of my family, I was driving along a local street on a very hot summer evening when I noticed a large dog with his head being pulled to the ground. I stopped my car and saw he was on a tow chain that had become so short from being kinked and twisted that he could not lift his head more than 6 inches off the ground and actually could not move. Even if he had been able to reach his water bowl - it was dry. I immediately called Liesa who lives about 20 miles away. She said she was on her way to my location. She arrived just before dark. By then the owner arrived. The dog, Max, is a German Shepard/Lab mix - all 75 pounds of him. During the next several weeks I checked on him almost daily. One day I noticed his right eye was watery and got permission from the owner to take him to my vet. My vet said it appeared he had sustained severe trauma to that eye and referred me to an eye specialist. At this time I talked to the owner and told him without treatment Max would loose his eye. He signed Max over to DDB. The specialist started Max on a series of tests, medications and routine visits trying to prevent glaucoma and the loss/removal of the right eye. That all started in August 2013. Max had his latest eye appointment in Feb 2014 and does not have to return for 6 mos unless there is a problem. He is slowly being weaned off his steroid medications but will need lifelong eye drops and eye vitamins to keep his eye stable. Max has also been fully vetted and neutered. I am going to adopt Max. His treatment costs to date has been over one thousand dollars. All paid for from DONATIONS paid to DDB on behalf of Max.

Bottom line................in the past 2 1/2 years, I alone, have been witness to over thirty dogs being taken off chains, given shelter, food, water, fully vetted, spayed or neutered and re-homed ALL due to donations made to DDB on behalf of all God's creatures that rely on us for help.


LINDA C.
UNIONTOWN, PA

I contacted Tami Thayne through Dogs Deserve Better and the Hero Fund Grant because I needed help.
I received a phone call about a family whose house burnt down and the family was in need. I am in construction, so I got in touch with them to see what I could do to help. They found a place to live off Firetower Road, but it was in awful shape. When we got there to assess the house we found two chained dogs on the side that had been abandoned. They were chained and there was broken glass and insulation everywhere along with a lot of trash. Both were thin, but neighbors had apparently been throwing scraps to them. There were water buckets with dirty water for drinking. I decided to take them both. I couldn't leave them there. Sammie was chained to some sort or metal that was dug into the ground. He was so scared. We had treats and he was very food motivated so we made friends quickly. After two guys finally got him untangled from the rubble for me, I loaded him in my car and took him home. I have been working with him. He is housetraining very well, has learned
to
play ball, knows how to leash walk now, and is very friendly. When I took him to the vet he tested HW positive. The other dog tested negative. Naturally they both had parasite infections, and rashes from the insulation. I need help with the heartworm treatment. He is approximately 10 months old and is a pitbull. I want him to have a great life. He is so deserving ! I will find him a great forever home when he is well. For now I will keep him until he is ready to be adopted. Rudy, the other dog has already found a great home where he stays inside and has kids to play with. My funds are very limited, and as you know, there are many irresponsible pet owners in this area. I do what I can to help abandoned dogs. At this time my savings account is depleted trying to take care of these poor babies. The vet appointment for his treatment is Jan 9,2014 for heartworm treatment. Then he will be neutered when the vet deems it is safe for him.
THANK GOD FOR DDB !!! Tami contacted me immediately and called in the funds for treatment. Sammie was saved on 12/13/2013 and has now completed his heartworm treatment and is a FABULOUS dog. He is still with me while I search for his perfect forever home. Thanks to Dogs Deserve Better and Tami .... Sammie is going to have a great life !!! I am truly grateful for all they have done to help me save this deserving pit bull !!!!!
Thank You,
Kimberly Henson
1011 East White Street
Rock Hill, SC 29732
803-984-7999

We love working with DDB. We're a small non-profit with the same mission of educating owners on the dangers of perpetual chaining/penning. They helped us out last year with $300 for vetting a Golden Retriever that we got off the chain and into rescue.

DDB helped us last month with a $300 Hero Fund grant for Campbell, who is one of the #367 dogs rescued from the second largest dogfighting bust in US history. The money was paid directly to Campbell's vet, Caring Hands, in DC, and was used to complete bloodwork and a health screen prior to his visit to his vet behaviorist to help him with his severe anxiety.

DDB was easy to communicate with, followed through with everything they said they'd do, and we are so grateful for the help with our fight bust (formerly chained) dogs.

Kate Callahan,
Co-Founder, Jasmine's House Inc (Founded in memory of Sweet Jasmine, a Vick dog)

Dogs Deserve Better helps many animals across the country get freed from life on a chain, and neglected and abused animals. I have seen many different volunteers for the organization in multiple states be effective and successful in saving animals lives from abuse. Great organization

DDB is an amazing rescue. They are involved in all forms of animal rescue, but I love the main focus of helping dogs get off their prison of chains!
They also bring awareness to many additional plights, as example with dog chained campaign on steps of govt., OAS, Dogs living in a box & many more!

I am the director of Southwest PA. Retriever Rescue Org, and also run the Shades Of Grey Sanctuary for senior and special needs dogs. We incorporated in 2000 and came into existance at just about the same time as Dogs Deserve Better. I have worked closely with DDB and promoted them over the years and have nothing but the deepest respect for their mission and their staff. While I have not made the long trip to the new rehab center in VA. yet, I have been to the former Tipton PA. location dozens of times. I can tell you from personal experience that the dogs in need are the center or DDB's focus just as it is for us.

Not only are we supporters of Dogs Deserve Better, we are also the recipient of a Hero Fund grant from them. We rescued a very senior black lab named Max who had lived his entire life at the end of a chain in Mt. Pleasant PA. He was thin, arthritic and and had a tumor growing in his right eye. DDB was kind enough to cover the cost of the tumor removal and made it possible for Max to live his last year and a half indoors in the comfort of our home, and to be able to see without the pain of the tumor he had lived with.

DDB and Tamira Thayne have supported us since our beginning by featuring our dogs in need in their flyers, including stories of our dogs in their books and publications and even featured our Maggie as the model for their lead dog in the book A New Name For Worthless. It has been our honor and pleasure to work with them for the past 14+ years and we intend to continue.

THANK YOU Tami and DDB for the wonderful work you do, don't let anyone tell you that you and not doing a great job!

I don't understand how people keep falling for this scam. Since May 6, 31 positive reviews giving DDB the best ratings, all in 3 days? Most of the reviews before that had been negative.

The leader of DDB had people write these positive reviews. Read them and you see most of them received money from DDB's hero grant program. That program has paid out $40,800 to help 136 dogs.

Last year, DDB took in donations exceeding $1,100,000 and only had $450,000 in expenses. They had over $650,000 left over. They only set aside $40,000 to help 136 dogs when they could be helping over 2000 dogs with all that extra money they have.

Huge red flags when -
A.) A charity has to get people to write positive reviews in exchange for generous grants
B.) Takes in in excess of $1,100,000 and helps so few dogs.

Their hero grant program helps 136 dogs for $40,000, their Good Newz Rehab Center has only helped 123 dogs in 3 years and they foster another 150 dogs.

DDB's leader has been convicted of stealing and receiving stolen property and she had been charged with animal cruelty and neglect. Those charges were dropped only when she ruthlessly went after her accusers on the web.

I totally agree with the previous comment, these new positive reviews are not spontaneous shows of appreciation. It is an organized campaign, along with the new pictures and videos that DDB posted. It is meant to distract people from the fact that DDB took in so much money and helped so few dogs.

Update 6/12

In response to DogsDeserveBetter comment:

How childish and immature must you be? Even if anyone were foolish enough to believe that this was a genuine job offer, I would never work for a convicted thief and I would never work for someone who was charged with animal cruelty. I would never work for an organization that used mace and tasers to rehab dogs. I can assure you, had I over one million dollars, I could and most certainly would help more than the 53 dogs DDB rescued in 2013. How do you sleep at night? You should be ashamed and people will eventually see it for what it is, profiting on the suffering of dogs.

If you see a chained dog or know of an owner with one that needs assistance, please contact Dogs Deserve Better. They're a magnificent organization that will assist to get a yard dog off a chain and into a home to live a better life and as the name says - Dogs Deserve Better!

Vetting assistance is available through the Hero Fund which can make the difference for a dog to be helped by an individual or a rescue group. If it wasn't for this organization many dogs would still be living a life of unutterable misery outside in the elements.

Since first finding out about them a few years ago I've had a growing appreciation for this organization and what they do nationally to advocate for changes of chained dogs. I can attest to the wonderful work they do as they've assisted with dogs I've been involved in rescuing. If it hadn't been for their support then the change for the dogs to have a new life would've been slow going or never changed at all but Dogs Deserve Better expeditiously made that change!

I steadfastly support them so they can continue to help others help more dogs in the future! If you're unable to rescue then please support Dogs Deserve Better as the Hero Fund is a life changer for many dogs to 'break the chain' and you'll be a part of changing the lives of many dogs!

Please follow the link below and support the next dog that 'deserves better' and awaiting a new life!
Be a part of breaking a chain!
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/hero.html

I learned of DDB several months ago and followed their work before I decided to donate as I only donate to reputable organizations. DDB truly cares about dogs and helps many dogs that would otherwise not get help. They are a professional and trustworthy rescue who is committed to providing the training and rehab needed for a dog to be successfully placed. When I send a donation to DDB I am always sent a thank you and verification. They are truly a class act. The naysayers are just disgruntled wanna bees who get kicks out of trying to destroy good things.

DDB has my full support!

I hope its obvious to all who check out these recent glowing reviews, that the CEO Thayne has rounded up a few dozen "admirers" in the past few days to boost her Guidestar rating. These are not spontaneous shows of appreciation, they have been solicited. Many have been recipients of Hero Award cash, or cross -postings on the DDB site for their cause. Thayne has already inflated her FB page fan count by tens of thousands within a very short time period, bought and paid for (yes, there are companies that will do that for a fee). Please look at some of the one star reviews from years past. This is one CEO who knows how to game the system and will not hesitate to it if it means more donations.

I run and operate a lard breed animal rescue, we have asked and received fast response, I have used them I believe 3 maybe 4 times. This is a program doing a Great job for the public, There is so much RED TAPE , when i couldn't find any help the animal cause i didn't have my nonprofit go though at that point. all they asked was for me to give them the info and photos and once we had them healthy
for you guys that have heard bad things,

This group is great, maybe helpful to a fault if anything, Dogs Deserve Better are there to help animals, and I would hope that the horrible dog fighting people, don't come out on top

I am in awe of the Dogs Deserve Better organization!!! I was expecting to call DDB and have to leave a message that probably wouldn't be returned for a few weeks. To the contrary, each and every time I've called DDB, Julie has answered the phone and been very helpful. I expected to wait for the decision about the grants for months. No, I received the deposited veterinary care funds after only three days. Their Hero Grant helped us to rescue a dog who had been living outdoors for 11 years and on a chair for the past five. Their grant relieved a huge financial burden by getting our new, awesome dog fully vetted and ready to enjoy life!

All non-profits, rescue organizations, and social justice advocacy groups should take advice from Dogs Deserve Better!!!! They're doing it right!! Their love for animals and wish for them to have better lives is still at the forefront of their mission. I hope they never, ever change!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Dogs Deserve Better and Tamira!!!!!

I could never express how grateful I am to Dogs Deserve Better, and Robin and Tamirya. When I first started in rescue, I happened upon DDB, and I was trying to help a dog get off a chain in CO. I messaged, and then called Robin. Her support and knowledge was invaluable. I was overwhelmed by their challenges and successes. When they (in my opinion) single handedly exposed Olympic Animal Sanctuary, I knew they would get those dogs their freedom. DDB is the most professional organization. Their mission, a desperate one, to free chained and penned dogs is the most noble cause I know. I hope everyone takes the time to get to know who they are, where they started and what they have accomplished. This organization deserves all of our respect.

As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of a dog rescue group in Phoenix, AZ that has special focus on helping chained dogs, we are strong supporters of DDB specifically the Hero Fund they provide. DDB is doing amazing work in saving dogs, promoting anti-chaining laws and educating the general public. Not to mention, the amazing support they provide to other rescues that rescue chained dogs~ There is no other group doing what DDB is doing. DDB fully has our support and appreciation.

Words can not express the thoughts deep within my heart about DDB! They have saved so many helpless animals. They do not give up, go to extreme measures and get ur done immediately! I can not
tell you how much this organization means to me and so many people that have had no clue of what goes on out there. Those people in turn have joined DDB forces and focus on what is important...the helpless, voiceless animals! Thank you for helping me and so many others.

I have worked with many rescues. There are good rescues and there are bad rescues. Then there are the rescues that go against the main stream thinking and stand up for what they believe in. That is Dogs Deserve Better. They stand firm by what they believe in to give dogs a better life. Their VA facility is beautiful and offers the dogs the ability to learn house manners, socialization and basic obedience in a realistic and forgiving setting. This group does amazing things for dogs that many other rescues and the public overlook. Sometimes people don't like to see there is a better way, when it comes to chained and penned dogs, DDB is the better way and educates others also.

I have been following DDB since 2007 when I first learned of their org because of Doogie's horrific plight, rescue, recuperation, and love-filled final days ~ thanks to DDB.

This year I had the occasion to work with DDB on a chained-dog case that occurred in NC. Though our rescue is closed, we receive emails occasionally with requests for help finding dogs to join families, and sometimes pleas for help to get dogs out of situations of abuse or neglect.
There was a boxer in NC who was chained outside, with minimal shelter, no human interaction, water and food self-feeder that was replenished about weekly. He was 5 years old, and though was originally a part of the family, had been banished to this chain for about a year. His owner reached out for help to get him to a better life; one with love and care that he deserved. Upon finding a rescue up north who had foster and ability to take the boxer, I traveled to have the dog relinquished and brought him to his rescue.

Dogs Deserve Better, Inc. was with me in support every step of the way. This boxer was the recipient of DDB's HERO FUND award, where his vetting costs were taken care of by DDB's Hero Fund donation directly to the boxer's rescue's Veterinarian.
Collaborative effort like this is something that is paramount to achieve success in continuing to spread the word, educate, and free dogs from their chains.

The level of awareness that has been raised about the plight of chained dogs across our nation continues to grow because of DDB. The donations into their Hero Fund make rescues like this possible, and help ensure that dogs receive the care and vetting they require in order to be healthy additions to their new rescues, fosters, or families.

I'm grateful to DDB for their assistance, and support their cause, with much respect to their efforts and achievements, and ability to communicate, assist, educate, and support other rescues.

Thank You, Dogs Deserve Better!!

This organization does such impressive work! It's a comfort to know that such kind and dedicated people are out there helping the animals.

Well what can I say about Dogs Deserve Better, they go so out of there wat to rescue . When a dog is on a chain they are there. When a dog is is desperate they are there . The setting at there rescue is as comfortable as if gets for a dog or any animal for that matter . 12 acres of freedom, tje program and staff work so hard to make these dogs trust a human again and feel the loyalty without being so protective of once being on a chain. Donations are what make this program work, I'm personally are going to help them by working with some of the more difficult dogs as I'm a true believor as of a no kill philosophy . So pleas support DDB for the work they do will continue to where all dogs are off a chain .
Thank you
Johnnyo Animal Activist and Humanitarian

Dogs Deserve Better Inc came to my attention when I saw an article about abused animals held in filthy conditions.This group stepped up in order to bring this to public awareness.This group was able to make a difference in the animals lives and living conditions....Then I watched as it happened again...And yet again.I believe this group and especially this lady who oversees the groups activities have given many animals a chance at life that would not have been available had Ms Budin and Dogs Deserve Better Inc. not been there to Be Their Voice....This is a wonderful and deserving group which deserves our praise and respect.

I first became aware of DDB when an article showed up on the internet describing the deplorable conditions at the Olympic Animal Sanctuary in Forks, WA. Before I donated any money, I did extensive research on DDB to be sure my money was being well spent. What I found was people who were willing to stand in the cold WA rain to fight for 124 dogs who were being abused beyond all human comprehension. They were cursed at, spit at, screamed at, and treated in a way people should not be treated but they stood their ground and continued to fight for these dogs. When the dogs were just "dropped" in Golden Valley, AZ, they traveled thousands of miles to rescue and bring dogs back to their facility. I have gotten to know Robin and Tamira personally and am even more impressed by their dedication and tenacity in righting the wrongs being done to dogs. When it comes to stepping up for chained and abused dogs, they are fearless. They don't do it for the glory. They quietly (that's actually an a contradiction of terms because they are pretty darned vocal when it comes to saving dogs) get the job done. If they got paid for the amount of heart they have, they would be millionaires. I have seen them go toe-to-toe with abusive owners (male and female) and come out on top. I have seen them take chained dogs that I would be fearful of being within two feet of and teach them that they are loved. They don't just rehabilitate them - they "Loveabilitate" them. I have seen them get down on the floor with an abused dog that I would have been afraid to be in the same room with and sit there until that dog realized that all humans were not cruel. I continue to donate to this organization because I believe DOGS DESERVE BETTER and they got Robin, Tami and their team.

Dogs Deserve Better is an absolutely wonderful organization. The founder is known as the"Godmother of the anti-tethering movement" (USA Today). SHE is the one who brought the cruelty of chaining to national awareness. I watched the whole organization and movement grow from the beginning (2000ish). She had a really rough road, but her work has been built on. Don't know if she is great with people, since lots of other animal people have a problem with her, but she IS an ethical, good-hearted person who started a BIG movement in the rescue world. Her group bought the Michael Vick property, which created MORE controversy, but it is HARDLY a mansion (I have been there several times). They do rescue 12 dogs at a time there, per the zoning laws, but what a great rescue those dogs get! There is a live-in person there and full-time caretakers and office workers. It ain't cheap--but it is JUST what dogs who have been chained for years need. The dogs run and play on 10 fenced-in acres
all day until they are adopted. There are strict guidelines and procedures for everything (thanks to all the scrutiny there's been). Those dogs have AWESOME times there. They welcome volunteers to come and stay for a few days and help. They do applications, home visits, and follow-ups. Over my 50 years, I have been involved in many rescue groups--this is BY FAR the best I've ever seen.

Dogs Deserve Better is a fantastic organization. The hero fund has helped so many dogs where help would not have come. I am the President of an animal rescue in GA and Dogs Deserve Better helped me rescue a chained dog with their hero fund. I was able to explain to the owner of the chained dog that he was very unhealthy and needed major medical attention. I was finally able to convince them that if they would give to dog to me to rehome I would make sure he got all his medical needs and I would pay for it. I would not have been able to offer that without the help of the hero fund. Being a small rescue we could not have afforded his vet care being so high. Dogs Deserve Better was thorough when giving the money to guarantee that it was going to a reputable person and that the actual dog that was chained received it! Dogs Deserve Better is such a great group that I would gladly work with in the future for all the great work they do got the dogs!!

Dogs Deserve Better Inc. is a wonderful organization that helped us rescue a chained Husky from a terrible life. With the help of Dogs Deserve Better our rescue was able to remove Thunder (the chained husky) from the chain and get him to the vet for what was probably the first time ever. His story led to an immediate adoption to a wonderful home with no chains. Thunder is now a happy, loved dog that goes everywhere with his adopter. Siberian Husky Assist Rescue and all its volunteers love, and appreciate what Dogs Deserve Better is doing to change the life of chained dogs. Dogs Deserve Better Inc. are very worthy of any and all praise bestowed on them.

On February 12, 2013, I was able to get Tiger, a chained pit bull who had been abused and abandoned, through the help of a local police officer. Other neighbors and I had witnessed his abuse and neglect for a year, reporting it repeatedly, to no avail. We began providing food for him when he became emaciated. I have other animals, and was in no position financially to take on another dog, but felt compelled. I became aware of Dogs Deserve Better through online research, and when I saw that they awarded $300 grants for unchained dogs' veterinary care, I applied immediately, sending the information about his rescue and pictures of him I had taken during his time living in the mud on a chain, and after we brought him to our home. Very quickly I heard back, through a phone call. She had tried to reach me through email and since she had not had a response, she called personally to tell me Tiger was a recipient. The money was sent to our veterinarian that day. We felt like we had won the lottery!

Tiger is now living with my son, a combat veteran, and they have a mutual understanding of things others cannot comprehend. He is loved and valued. Without the help of Dogs Deserve Better, Tiger's veterinary care would be difficult. The $300 provided his vetting for a year, as well as heartworm and flea preventives. We are forever grateful.

Mary Jo Raulerson
Memphis, TN
(901)277-4534

This program is exceptional. The grants are easy to apply for and quickly applied to vet bills. Being a rescue the group the 300 dollar hero.grant is a huge help financially. Very grateful for this organization!!

Dogs Deserve Better is an amazing organization that leaped to the assistance of a special dog named Codi. I found Codi chained with no shelter and once I was able to negotiate an owner surrender, Dogs Deserve Better paid for the neuter and shots which without the financial assistance, this boy would not have had an adoptive home so quickly. Thank you :)

Dogs Deserve Better is one of the most amazing rescue groups i have come across. I've been involved in some form of rescue work for 20 years, he last 13 specifically with dogs and i could not be more proud to have met such an amazing group of folks with a true passion and heart for dogs. Their dedication, organization and expeditiousness with with they worked to assist a dog in my neighborhood that was beyond my help was amazing. Thanks to DDB Noodle now has a great home with an amazing family, a far cry from the garbage filled dilapidated shed he was chained in.
Through the DDB's Hero Fund, i was able to find a family that was anxious to welcome Noodle into their home while having DDB cover the much needed medical care he needed which they could not afford at the time.
Since re-homing Noodle, i have been able to turn to DDB for information and resources to help other dogs across 6 states. They are always the 1st name i mention when someone knows of a dog in a bad situation and usually the last phone call we need to make because they take care of business and put these dogs first. HUGE thanks to Tami and the DDB staff and volunteers for all they do.

Doing rescue wk in west MI. for 30 yrs- "Critter Cafe Rescue" became official 10 yrs ago- I do all species of domestic pets and also rehab wildlife here in my home.
Every rescue has some pitfalls/disgruntled ex-volunteers smear campaign too; its too bad but in all my years of being involved- that's the way it is.
In rescue, it gets pretty hard to remain sweetly characterized to your fellow human race seeing so much diabolical STUPIDITY, abuse and neglect from day to day done onto our innocent voiceless fur and feather babies.
I try and stay far away from "problems" involving other rescues and unsatisfied ppl that that simply are out to pitch a b*tch although I do pay attn when there becomes so many incidences w/ sick and dieing animals even though a rescue is bringing in $95K like one here in West MI. now.
That said, in my experience wking w/DDB-they made things easy and simple for me to get through a remarkably tough situation to rescue a pit-bull from one of the worst cities in MI. --FLINT-- during wild-life"baby season" here and a house full of domestic bunnies, guineas, chinnes, ratties, birds, cats+ other dogs to care for.
Between the transport, the vetting, the ppw taking in Life Care contracts to adopt considering the breed, and home-cks, etc. the one thing that was simple was DDB's help.
I appreciate that help **so** very much.
Somehow in a world of greed, abuse, instant gratification-seeking, depression and suffering- a person in rescue has to have some sort of "break" or burn-out ensues including physical health deterioration. All of the nay-sayers that are able to walk away from rescue at any time w/o strings attached need to consider that.
This is a non paid job that yet is worked 24/7/365 -- for me at least.
I appreciate DDB's service being there when I needed it.
Thanks again Tami.
Sincerely,
Christine Lea
Critter Cafe Rescue
5818 Airline Rd.
Fruitport, MI 49415
231-366-7197
"WE ALL MATTER"

"As a FULL TIME ANIMAL RESCUER, some people think I'm crazy- At least my soul is intact."
-Christine Lea

FACT: 92 out of every 100 drugs that successfully pass animal tests STILL fail or cause harm during human trials.
("LIKE"US on FB and check out our work)
https://www.facebook.com/CRITTER.CAFE.RESCUE

I am the owner of Wolf Spirit Sled Dog Rescue. We are a very small rescue and hardly receive donations but doesn't keep us from rescuing. If it weren't for DDB we would of never been able to help 2 husky that had been chained all their life and a pit bull eat up with mange that was chained. We could never express how grateful we are for DDB. Also they also help us bring one of the OAS dogs from AZ to VA. This is a great organization. I love them

I am forever thankful for what DDB did for me and my rescue. Taking in a dog off the streets that was living chained outside is always a big task. However with DDB, they made it so easy and it was very nice of them that they helped and donated so I could get the dog vetted before it went into his forever home. I am and will alwayss support DDB. To me they are a prime example of what rescuing is all about. Thank you DDB. From Crystal in OHIO.

I am the Executive President of AnimaNaturalis Peru and I am glad to write a comment about Dogs Deserve Better. Thanks to their help, we were able to rescue two dogs from a life of misery and suffering in Lima, Peru. The two of them were left tied to a post in front of the house that once was theirs. Thanks to the grant provided by DDB, we were able to rescue, spay and neuter, pay for vet bills and place them in new homes. Without their help our job could had been much more difficult.
My students and I are also involved in their wonderful project "Valentines for Chained Dogs" and we are proud to help them in their endeavors to help needy animals.

I only give to organizations I know well for many years and trust. DDB has earned my support and trust.

DDB was the only reason I could get two dogs out of a lonely filthy pen and into a rescue group, where they quickly found their forever homes. Their Hero Fund grants covered the vet care these dogs had never had and the grants were the only way the rescue groups could afford to take the dogs in. I watched as those two lives were directly saved by DDB.

Dogs Deserve Better does amazing things for chained animals all across this country. DDB changes so many dogs lives for the better. Their Hero Fund helped my rescue organization save a wonderful Rottie who was chained up for 8 years and is now in a loving home because of that fund. What they do is extremely important and i support them 100%.

We located a black lab in rural Missouri that had been chained up outside for 3 years. Max is the sweetest lab you could ever want. All he wanted was for someone to love him and play with him. We contacted several agencies to help us save Max and give him the quality of life he deserves. Everyone told us they were already overcrowded or unable to assist us. We reached out to Dogs Deserve Better, Inc and they saved Max. We brought him home that day and took him straight to our vet. It was the first time Max had seen a vet in 3 years. I was wondering how I was going to be able to save Max and pay for his vet costs. Dogs Deserve Better sent $300 directly to our vets office which covered the expenses for Max to get vaccinated and neutered. This organization made it so easy for us to help save this dogs life. I have never dealt with an agency that was so easy to work with, accomodating, and extremely fast to act to save a dogs life. They made the whole process stress free. Without this organization there would be hundreds of dogs chained up outside or dead. NO DOG or any animal deserves that abuse. Max has been with us for a year now and is happier than ever. He loves his new home with his 2 new buddies. They love playing together and can run free in our back yard without being chained up.

Our organization takes in many chained dogs. We took one in , Ollie, who lived chained 24/7 for 3 years. Ollie was heartworm positive and need treatment and Dogs Deserve Better was there for him! They are an amazing organization that helps the forgotten ones that are chained in peoples backyards!!! They are there for those ones that nobody sees or that nobody knows exists.

We took in three formerly chained dogs to our no-kill shelter. Dogs Deserve Better sent $900 to our veterinarian to get the dogs spayed/neutered and updated on vaccines. DDB goes above and beyond for the dogs they Rescue and they are excellent at assisting other shelters/rescues properly rehab formerlu chained/penned dogs. I highly recommend them for the sometimes thankless work they do.

I run a rescue in Missouri and we took in an abused pitbull who was chained surrounded by trash and was literally being choked. He was diagnosed with heartworm disease and several intestinal parasites and also developed a bad cough that required meds. Dogs Deserve Better granted him a Hero fund grant and without their help we would have struggled to provide all the necessary vetting Sam needed. Samson is now visiting nursing homes and starts training for his Canine Good Citizen Certification this week. We are greatful for the help of DDB.

Tamira Thayne is a menace to the animal rescue community. She tries to shove her philosophy down everyone's throats, then if you don't agree with her, she will incite theft, mob mentality, law breaking, and harassment. She should not be in animal rescue.

If it was not for Rhapsedy, a DDB supporter and activist, my sweet Maci would be dead. An innocent
In terrible conditions, left to die in a tiny crate outside in the Summer heat. If not for these people, way too many dogs would die of abuse and neglect.

Rhapsedy of DDB fought the odds with my girl, contacted rescues all over
the place until one was willing to take sweet Maci. KNICK KNACK PITTIE PACK in
Mont Alto agreed to take her 1/2 way cross country to safty. I was the KKPP foster and now forever mommy of Maci.

DDB saved her tbrough their network of caring citizens... through people who
Do Not get paid for their service... and DDB help countless Macis all over the nation!

As is normal practice for those who criticize visionaries, I noticed that the updated facts were NOT posted here regarding the FALSE Charges against DDB which have subsequently been DROPPED by Poindexter and his cohorts. ( His role in the Vick case was exposed in Gorant's Book " The Lost Dogs" )

In short, the entire episode was an attempted FRAME .
To read more about the facts on this one simply has to go to:
http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/inthenews.html
and read the PDF'S. dated 3/5 and 5/15 of 2013.

To Ms. Thayne's critics I would only asked these simple questions:

How many of you have made the personal sacrifices she has , both as a Military Veteran and Advocate for Abused Dogs?

How many of you have nearly DIED in this cause?

She HAS.

Personally I can think of no FINER USE for Vick's former place of dog torture and death than this.

Don't want to contribute to DDB work for chained dogs? Then Don't.
Don't want to contribute to other Orgs who work for the benefit of animals, the vast majority of whom have been criticized as well?
Then Don't.

Baseless negative comments are counter productive to the movement.

I need not add more.

State orders Surry dog rescue to place 8 dogs into foster care
September 27, 2012
SURRY – The state has directed Tamira Thayne, executive director of Dogs Deserve Better Inc., to place the organization's eight remaining dogs at the Good Newz Rehab Center into foster care by Sept. 30.

But that deadline is on hold while her attorney, Fred Taylor, works with Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials, said Thayne. Elaine Lidholm, an agency spokeswoman, declined to discuss the deadline or other details of the state's ongoing probe into the anti-chaining dog rescue organization based out of the Surry County house where Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick once ran a dogfighting operation.

The organization is not accepting any new chained dogs, Thayne said.

Thayne was charged with two misdemeanors — one count each of animal cruelty and inadequate care of animals — on Aug, 28, just days after a state veterinary and Surry Animal Control made an unannounced visit on Aug. 23. Thayne's trial is scheduled for Nov. 13 in Surry General District Court.

Dogs Deserve Better has been operating without the state's required approval since opening in June 2011, with records showing that least 30 dogs have been confined during that time, according to a Sept. 10 letter to Thayne from Daniel Kovich, a program manager with the state veterinary's office. Although the state reported giving her staff a verbal directive to stop accepting new chained dogs during a Jan. 25 inspection, Thayne said she never received the message.

According to the state's letter, the facility is violating some of the state's safe shelter laws because dogs are housed in groups inside the house and moved into different rooms of the house in response to aggression.

The state also referenced one dog fight that resulted in a $1,200 veterinarian bill, two dogs having been treated after being bitten by snake on overgrown property, and groups of dogs being kept in the kitchen with "direct access" to hazardous items including knives, glassware, small appliances and alcohol.

In his report, Kovich also noted that three bottles of pepper spray were found inside the house, one of which had been discharged.

While serving a search warrant on Aug. 27, Surry County deputies seized nine cans of pepper spray from the house, along with two Tasers, computers, vet records and a 1-year-old pit bull, according to search warrants. Ten days later, the courts awarded custody of the dog, Jada, back to Dogs Deserve Better.

"Use of pepper spray as a deterrent to aggression is in no way an appropriate husbandry practice in an animal shelter environment," according to Kovich's letter. "Negative interactions should be prevented from occurring in the first place."

The state and local investigation was spurred partially after several former employees, including former office manager Deana Whitfield, emailed pictures and complaints to Surry Animal Control in July. Whitfield and Dogs Deserve Better parted ways in late June, about one month after Whitfield filed an anonymous complaint alleging unsafe working conditions with the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The May 21 complaint says that employees are not trained or equipped to safely deal with dog fights, that a single employee is frequently left alone in open rooms with large numbers of uncaged dogs, and that employees have not been trained to use the pepper spray provided to break up dog fights. The OSHA complaint was closed without an on-site inspection after Thayne had an additional on-site training class for employees.

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."

***************************************************

"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."

This organization is a SCAM. DDB duped people into giving them money to purchase the Vick property. They promised a "rehab center" for chained dogs. People gave them and continue to give them money however, there is no "rehab center" nor is there a solid plan! There will NEVER be a center on this property unless a VERY rich person steps up and offers to pay for it. We all know what the chances of that happening are...less than slim to none! They only raised money for the down payment on the Vick property and the money that they continue to raise goes towards the bills and Tami's salary! They only have only a few dogs at the "center" for adoption and they will not take any dogs that actually need rehabilitation because they cannot handle them! What happens when the fabled rehab center does not get built?? Will the donors get their money back? This place should have never been purchased unless they had ALL of the money to do what was promised up front! I hope all of the people that donate know that their money is paying Tami's salary (yes, she takes a salary from donations), mortgage, utilities, cable, internet, etc. GET A JOB TAMIRA! My rescue saves more dogs than DDB yearly and I work full time because we don't get paid to rescue! DDB is a pathetic excuse for a rescue and gives REAL rescuers a bad name!

I think an investigation of the volunteers is warranted as there is allegations (which appear to all have documentation to prove) the misappropriation of funds being made by one Tamira Thayne. The occupation of a mansion(specifically Michael Vicks) has been admitted that it was acquired as a publicity stunt(which Tamira has admited to) does not seem like an appropriate place for a dog rescue. Nor should Tamira be able to pick and choose which dogs she will rescue and rehabilitate. For this reason a more appropriate building should have been acquired, one that could house more and be used to properly care for these animals. As an outsider from Canada who has been following this situation thru social media, have seen information and documents to prove the above. So my question is, when will you start the investigation?? DDB Inc, could benefit and probably restore its reputation to have this matter looked after.

"I KNOW Tami is about and only about saving animals."—Shannon Allen, August 6, 2011
by Tamira Ci Thayne on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 7:00pm

"I wouldn't affiliate myself with an organization that does the things that BJH is claiming. I have a good relationship with Tami, that doesn't mean we don't disagree at times, but in the end I KNOW Tami is about and only about saving animals. If for one moment I doubted that, I would quietly move on. I picked up a chained dog around 4am one morning after receiving a call. Vespa had been mauled while chained and escaped. I don't know how long she was on the run with her injuries but was she severely septic. I asked Tami if we should let her go or try to save her. Tami said, "Save her!" Two days and $1500 later, Vespa died at the ER clinic. Tami was there for me at 2am, 2 days before Christmas when Vespa died. I will always be grateful for that."—Shannon Allen, writing about Dogs Deserve Better founder Tamira Thayne, August 6, 2011

(She's just got a funny way of showing her gratitude, that's all.)

I am under attack by former Dogs Deserve Better rep Shannon Allen, and as such I am speaking out about the Dogs Deserve Better Area Rep program, the expectations of reps who are in our program, and why Shannon Allen is misleading the rescue community and is, indeed, the only one abandoning dogs if that is where her intentions lie.

The Dogs Deserve Better Area Rep program is very unique, in that not only are we geographically scattered across the entire country—and sometimes even world—but each rep has in the past been given the utmost freedom of choice and control over his/her area.

This meant that first and foremost a rep was required to be an adult, to behave like an adult, and to make adult decisions as to her/his ability to rescue dogs, place dogs, and take physical responsibility for any dogs rescued in her/his area. In addition, reps made decisions about talking to people with chained dogs, running educational booths, building fences, and starting grassroots efforts to change laws for man's best friend to prohibit chaining.

I never asked or told reps to go rescue a certain dog. I didn't feel that was my decision to make. Rescuing a dog is a big commitment, and I would make that commitment for myself and for myself alone. If I were able to take a certain dog into my home and foster him/her, I might ask a closer rep to facilitate rescuing the dog and getting him/her to me.

I typically fostered as many as six dogs at a time, out of my home, which also doubled as the organizational headquarters. There was not any kind of magic castle in which to put dogs who needed rescue. Either a rep took responsibility for them, I took responsibility for them, or we tried to network with other rescues for placement for the dogs.

If a rep made a decision to rescue Dog A, then it was the rep's responsibility to make sure that Dog A was physically cared for from that point on. If Dog A went to a foster home that was not with the rep, and that foster home fell through, they could certainly network with the other reps and myself looking for another place for the dog to go, but the physical responsibility for that dog remained with the rescuing rep, unless and until the dog was transferred elsewhere.

The reps who behaved as adults understood this from day one, and made sure when they decided to step down as reps that all their fosters were either homed or in foster homes which they would continue to monitor until they got adopted. For example, one rep who retired from DDB, Gayla Hausman from Nebraska, wrote this about her foster dogs: "I'm so proud of the work I've done with all of you, and the many many dogs I have helped to get a better life. I will remain forever passionate about animal welfare. I have my last two dogs leaving in the next week for adoption. Let me know if there is anything else I need to do."

And former rep Penny Gummo elaborates: "When I was with Dogs Deserve Better I was told I wouldn't get vetting paid without prior approval and I never assumed that any dog I rescued would be physically taken in by Dogs Deserve Better. I don't know why anyone else would think they could do anything they please without approval. Rescue WOULD be much easier if we could just give the dogs to someone else once we rescued them…"

In fact, Shannon Allen typed April 2, 2011: "I feel responsible for every dog I adopt for the entire life of that dog. I assume at any given time an owner is going to call me and say they can no longer keep their dog. Maybe I am a control freak, but it is important to me to make sure that all dogs I adopt are safe, happy, and healthy for the entire lives."

Miss Allen, who was never an employee of the organization, but instead a subcontractor who worked from home, used her own equipment, and made her own hours, quit working with the org in September of this year.

We had been having trouble with her for a while with behaviors that were indicative of hoarding or at least an inability to judge how many dogs she could handle at any one time.

Even though I did not like to interfere in reps decision-making processes, I was compelled to start counseling Miss Allen about rescuing too many dogs for one person to handle. On April 5, 2010, I wrote the following: "I'm a little concerned that you're getting in over your head with the number of dogs. How many do you have right now?"

On February 7, 2011, I wrote her the following: "As I told you before, you personally cannot save them all. You have 19 dogs at your house, and you are costing the org a fortune in boarding. IT HAS TO STOP."

Yet Miss Allen continued to ignore me and created vet bills in the organization's name at at least three different vets that we had no knowledge of. No reps are allowed to create accounts in the organization's name, and Ms. Allen knew this, but she continued anyway.

When she quit the organization in September, 2011, she began attacking me and the organization on every website she could get her hands on. She then declared myself/Dogs Deserve Better responsible for her foster dogs, even though I had never seen any of these dogs in person, had never told her to rescue any of them, and had in fact told her she needed to cut back, stop rescuing, on at least three occasions.

Dogs Deserve Better DID cover vetting for every foster Ms. Allen claims has been abandoned by the organization. Ms. Allen made the personal decision to take these dogs into her home, therefore she is the one and the only one physically abandoning them if that is the path she so chooses.

I have made it a practice to help reps as much as I possibly can when they get into a jam. We have moved the organization from my home in Pennsylvania to The Good Newz Rehab Center, in Smithfield, Virginia, where we are currently operating out of a house while we continue to pay off the property. For the safety of our dogs and the humans who visit here, we cap the number of dogs we rehabilitate at any one time to 14.

The Good Newz Rehab Center's mission is to rehabilitate formerly chained and penned dogs. Our goals are to rescue chained dogs from nearby states, as well as support our reps who are out rescuing dogs.

Since moving here in July, we have supported the following reps, volunteers, or former reps by taking in dogs that they requested come to the center: Kristie Hendricks, Shelly Donnelly, Holly Lyttle, Miriam McCormick Hayes, Monica Severy, Rebecca Helwig, and yes, Shannon Allen.

The decision was made to drive over to Ms. Allen's home, 5 hours from the Good Newz Rehab Center, and take in three of her foster dogs, despite Ms. Allen's verbal abuse of the organization and myself.

We took as many dogs as we could responsibly take from Ms. Allen, and we told her we would continue to help her find homes for the others. But the bad-mouthing didn't stop. She claimed we took her three most-adoptable dogs, and instead of being grateful for our help in cleaning up her mess, she insisted we come immediately and take the rest of the dogs she had committed to.

People told me DDB should swoop in and take all the dogs. In theory that's a great solution, except that I have nowhere to safely put them, and the safety of the dogs we already have onsite and the visitors here comes first.

Here's what DDB CAN do for Ms. Allen and her foster dogs. To date we have adopted out two of the dogs we took from her, Storm and Rose. Cowboy is still at the facility. We currently have three spots open; however, one is claimed by Rebecca Helwig from Tennesee who has a rescued shepherd coming over within the week, and one spot may be taken by a local rottie. That leaves one space.

I will commit to giving that space to the foster dog of my choice that Ms. Allen has left in her home.

This, however, puts Ms. Allen in a bind, because she and cohort Ms. Estlow, twice-fired DDB employee from years ago who still has no life but to try to take me down, insist that I'm an animal abuser. Can she really give another dog to an animal abuser?

What would that say about her?

So will Ms. Allen admit that it's not true by giving me yet another dog (she's already given me three since she first accused me of being an animal abuser), or will she decline the help for one of her foster dogs she can't wait to get rid of?

I will even drive three hours to meet Ms. Allen to get the dog, and give her 10 bags of dog food for the remaining dogs in her care.

Ah, dilemmas, dilemmas.

Oh, let us not forget the DDB Sponsor a Dog Program, where Santa Paws will be matching donations so that every foster dog in the DDB program can get a $100 Petsmart or Petco card. I would commit to giving her one card for every foster she has remaining.

I will also say that if Ms. Allen had put the time and attention into trying to get her dogs adopted that she has spent on badmouthing me and trying to destroy Dogs Deserve Better, they would have been adopted out long ago.

What do we know about Ms. Allen? Who is the real Ms. Allen?

Ms. Allen accuses me of financial misdeeds with Dogs Deserve Better. Yet she herself has been convicted of embezzling $36,000 from Virginia Tech University. Convicted! EMBEZZLING! $36,000!!!!! She plea-bargained down from felony charges to misdemeanors by paying back the money. She then calls this 'borrowing.' Could she be projecting her issues onto me?

She has alleged that when DDB worked out of my home that DDB paid my mortgage, which couldn't be further from the truth. Anything of that nature would have been required to be filed in our 990 paperwork, which is readily available for public viewing. DDB never paid a dime of rent or mortgage the entire time we worked out of my home. When I sold my home, although I was left with only $5000 for myself, I still gave DDB $1000 of that money. (Yes, I have the cancelled check as proof.)

"I would actually love for there to be an audit however. It will prove that DDB operates legally. Then what will they have? The same thing they started with....a doctor with a major ego problem."—Shannon Allen, July 23, 2011

I believe in this organization, and in the mission we are trying to accomplish. I am a proud supporter of Dogs Deserve Better, both financially and with most of my time and energy. Now that my house is sold, I am paying the organization $400 a month rent for my bedroom and bath, even though my office takes up part of my bedroom. I am also paying $200.00 per month toward utilities. I strive at all times to be more than fair and very supportive of Dogs Deserve Better and our efforts for chained and penned dogs.

DDB has an audit done every year, and we have nothing to hide.

Heather Estlow was fired not once but twice by me. Why? Because I was dumb enough to hire her back, of course. I would imagine she has a bit of an ax to grind.

It is she who accuses me of animal abuse, and at the time I knew her, she lived in an abusive home with a husband who drank every night and she told me he hit her son and their dogs. I remember her biggest concern was her ex-husband finding out, and not the well-being of her son. Could she be projecting her issues onto me as well? Ain't it funny how that happens…

She once told me about a time that her dogs fought for two hours and she couldn't break them apart, no matter how much she kicked or hit them. She even broke a broom over their heads, and yet still they fought. If she ever saw me get physical with dogs, it would have been during a dog fight, when you can and must do whatever you have to do to break up the fight or you have a dead dog on your hands. Nowadays I favor pinning the aggressor down with a chair if at all possible, and this works much of the time, but I wasn't as savvy when I first started rescuing.

I was, in the beginning when Ms. Estlow was around, very naive about dogs and the fact that they fought, often without warning from the perspective of inobservant humans. It was very terrifying to know that if I didn't step in and handle it decisively, we would be lucky to have an emergency trip to the vet's and not a dead dog to mourn over.

"About two months ago, she had a terrible set back. I had let her out of her room to play like I had done every morning and she immediately attacked one of my resident dogs. She grabbed her neck and would not release. It was one of the most fearful moments as I really thought she was going to kill her. I tried to pry her mouth open and could not, I held her nose, I sat on top of her and put her in a choke hold all the while the other dog is flailing and screaming. I was finally able to wedge my fingers into her throat and choke her, and she released. The other dog ran and I picked Hokie up and put her in the nearest room with a door. I ran to check on the other dog expecting her neck to be ripped open as there was a lot of blood. Luckily she had on her invisible fence collar, and though it was destroyed, she only suffered some bruising."—Shannon Allen, February 27, 2010

I guess these two women are just as guilty of animal abuse, then. Or does the safety of the attacked dog warrant and justify any measures taken to save a life? I've asked quite a few trainers about what to do during dog fights, as it's always a grave concern of mine. I remember clearly one trainer telling me: "Whatever you have to do."

While I cannot prove to anyone that I'm not an animal abuser, everyone who comes to the center comments about how all the dogs follow me around like I'm the Pied Piper. From what I've seen, dogs don't follow animal abusers around. Typically two dogs sleep in my room with me each night, and the rest wish they could.

My current favorite rescue dog at the center is actually one of the dogs we took from Shannon Allen, a pit mix named Cowboy. I love nothing more than to curl up on the big dog bed with him for fifteen minutes before their bedtime, and just snuggle and kiss him to pieces. He's like a huge teddy bear. I adore him!

I do have a suggestion, though. If you think or believe that I'm an animal abuser, it's very simple: DON'T GIVE ME ANY DOGS.

That oughta lighten my load by about 1%.

Below are more quotes from Ms. Allen, which are in direct opposition to what she's is currently spewing on the internet. Doesn't it make you wonder who the real Shannon Allen is? Want to see absolute PROOF that she lies and it has nothing to do with me whatsoever? This link takes you to a discussion she has online when she was still with DDB where she is bragging about how she took down a dogfighter. (DDBNRV) Then someone comes along and points out that she is the same Shannon Allen that embezzled $36,000 from Virginia Tech and maybe people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. She denies it. She then builds another identity and comes back and says she's now 'the Real DDB' and the other one was fake. The people see right through it. That's some funny stuff!

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/pearisburg-va/T73K5KB2L3160ITVL/p2

How many people are living inside that head, Shannon?

This is one of my favorites, so it bears repeating: "I would actually love for there to be an audit however. It will prove that DDB operates legally. Then what will they have? The same thing they started with....a doctor with a major ego problem."—Shannon Allen, July 23, 2011

"If she thinks Vick's house is a mansion, I would love to see what kind of house she lives in. We have several sub-divisions here in middle class rural Virginia that makes Vick's house look like small. In addition quite a bit of land came with it. A lot of houses sell below appraisal, Vick's house sold below assessment.

Honestly, DDB has been fundraising for a rehab center for about 7 years although we didn't have a location picked out, it was decided early on that it would be Virginia. We looked at properties in Charlottesville, VA that cost this much for just the land.

I just makes me laugh that people who have had no dealings with starting a rehab/rescue center suddenly think they know about zoning, real estate, staffing, etc."—Shannon Allen, July 26, 2011

"What infuriates me the most is them spamming other rescue pages. So many dogs in need posts are getting pushed off of the page. So mean and selfish! Many of the dogs only have hours to live and rely on the right person seeing that post. I wonder if they even care? That is why DDB starting deleting and banning them. If they want to trash DDB, they can do it on the BJH page. DDB's page is about dogs that need help, not psychotic doctors that need help."—Shannon Allen, August 3, 2011
"There are other organizations, but I believe in DDB, our mission, and our leadership. I have learned and grown as a rescuer through DDB, I have met thousands of wonderful people, and have been able to so much more to help chained dogs through DDB. Even if I disagreed with DDB in this situation, which I don't, I still would not support Dr. Fiala. She has proven herself to be vindictive, unstable, and unreasonable (to name a few)."—Shannon Allen, August 6, 2011

"BJH mocks DDB for doing the same things that thousands of rescues do. If they would have simply stuck to, 'Bringing Joel Home', they would at least be somewhat credible. But once they started calling names, attacking the center, attacking Tami's wedding, attacking Chain Off, etc. It was obvious that this had nothing to do with Joel. If you notice, Joel is mentioned less frequently every day."—Shannon Allen, August 6, 2011

"This isn't a new rule which is why we are 'cleaning house' so to speak. Yesterday was the deadline for all current reps to re-apply under the new requirements and for us to review new applications. We have new rules and are reiterating old rules. This has in fact resulted in fewer reps but that is the point, to weed out reps that don't want to follow rules (like Marion), and to weed out the dormant reps (like Marion). Quality not quantity."—Shannon Allen, August 10, 2011

"I would totally expect that type of verbal abuse from a ‘pro-chainer’ but not from a fellow rescuer."—Shannon Allen, September 16, 2009

"I just don’t understand why she is so angry at me. I just hope that she doesn’t treat others in DDB, other rescuers, or anybody for that matter the way she treated me."—Shannon Allen, September 16, 2009

"Again, DDB is the best rescue organization that I have ever been involved in and perhaps I jumped on the resignation before thinking it through. It’s just her words were so reminding of things my mother used to say to me when I was growing up. So perhaps [she] was correct in saying I needed help, help dealing with my ‘mommy issues’."—Shannon Allen, September 16, 2009

"I am not as confident now as to whether I am worthy of being a DDB rep. So, I guess I want to get your assessment. I love representing DDB. This has been the most fulfilling opportunity. I want to be an asset to this organization, not a liability."—Shannon Allen, September 16, 2009

This is from a former rep who's personal e-mail Shannon is exhibiting around, against this rep's wishes. She says: "I just want to personally apologize for the part that I now "play" in the note that Shannon is sending around. I did send her that email when she first resigned because I thought "OMG is shannon is resigning, then there must be something really wrong." And I kept waiting and waiting for her proof... The proof was not there which is why I decided she was full of hot air."

Only you can decide who you believe in this mess. I say actions speak a LOT louder than words. While Shannon and Heather and their merry band of haters play Mean Girls on the internet, we have dug in and worked our asses off getting the Good Newz Rehab Center off the ground. We have installed 1500 ft. of fencing for our dogs, have found homes for six of the dogs, and committed to dogs to fill those slots as they leave. We have ripped up carpeting and installed rubber flooring, went through two washers and dryers, and taken the dogs for two walks virtually every day. We've trained them, we've brought them back to health, and we've given them as much of ourselves as we possibly can.

We are putting our money where our mouths are, while they spew hatred, filth, lies, and destruction. I guess only you can decide how you want to live your life. I know I'm going to keep rescuing dogs and fighting against chaining. Because that's what I do, and I don't do it for Shannon Allen or Heather Estlow or Fiala. I do it for the dogs. It's really that simple.

Tamira Ci Thayne, founder and CEO, Dogs Deserve Better

DDB is a premier Animal rescue for chained and penned dogs and the owner and employees go above and beyond the call of human compassion to help chained/penned suffering dogs across this country. They lobby laws in many states against chaining and none compare to them! DDB has had to defend itself against scorned ex-employees and fosters. When yo have to remove a dog from a foster and ex-employees take advantage of your kindness, you are open for attacks which take on the MOB MENTALITY which to me, has no credability. Keep up the good work DDB!

This rescue is rediculously lsing site of whats important!! The dogs....I just rescued a dog from Ohio that was a DDB dog...when the foster due to health issues could no longer keep the animal she pleaded with DDB to help.....Their answer....this dog was vicious and needed to be put to sleep. Some amazing people got together and we found a way to fly that beautiful sweet boy ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY to my home where he lives PEACEFULLY with 2 small chilren, a bunny that roams freely through the house, 2 rats, a cat, a 3 lb Chihuaua and myself! This amazing pit bull has brought so much joy to my home and DDB was just going to turn their back on him and Euth him because they didnt want to deal with him SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL OF YOU in bed with this worthless group that claims to be a RESCUE....you should be ahamed and find a job at a kill shelter where you PTS helpless animals all day......what your doing is the equivalent!!!!!!!!!!

Looks the way that Dogs Deserve Better has handled the purchase of the Vick property and their reps is sort of like removing the engines from a sinking ship to keep it afloat.

I was rep for this organization for about 8 months. Back then it was about rescuing and saving the dogs and I felt like I was helping change those dogs lives. After a while it became all about buying the vick property and NOT helping the dog at all. Once the vick property was DDBs, all the reps were dismissed. I helped raise money for this group and was thrown out like yesterdays trash. Every time I tried to get questions answered via emails to tami, they went unanswered. The person who ever answered emails or phone calls was Shannon Allen. Without her I would have been alone. Shannon made a big difference in my life where Tami was not seen or heard from once the vick property and her wedding started rolling around. After being dumped as a rep, I still had dogs in foster, and a couple of them needed new placement. I sent email after email and I was told they had to stay put unless I found them a new foster. No help ever came and I was stuck. This was just one more example of how the reps and the dogs were thrown aside as soon as the vick property came into the picture. I will never ever again donate my time or money to a group who claims they are here to help the dogs when all they want is their 15 minutes of fame in the spotlight. Since then I have returned to rescue on my own. I am now very untrusting of rescue groups after being used and thrown out by DDB. All my time and effort did was finance Tami's house, when she got what she wanted none of us were needed. So sad, I put my trust and faith in DDB and was let down in the worst way. But the worst offense of all is the dogs are no longer being helped and they are paying the ultimate price for DDB's greed.

I was a DDB Rep for a year. I worked very hard and dedicated all of my free time and my -own- money to responding to calls and/or emails pleading for help. I juggled a full time job, my own household and all of my pets, and a family who I tried to see. My family saw that I was bankrupting myself and they would always be puzzled as to why I wasn't receiving more (financial) support. I never questioned the org, even though I was treated poorly througout my time with the org. For me, my commitment revolved around the dogs. So that's where my focus was. There were experiences with DDB and its leaders that brought up red flags and all of the negative experiences had to do with money. The Reps did the ground work, while the org's leaders focused on money. And money dictated how they treated the Reps, the public, and even the dogs! I NEVER could get anywhere with legistlative ideas because the org's leaders were focused on money. The founder gave absolutely no attention or support to the Reps. We were policed though. There were times I asked for help on various levels, and I got the runaround. Yet, when it came to DDB spending money, I could always count on hearing back from the coordinator or founder. I was being bullied by a fellow Rep and because "she brought in alot of money", I was forced to deal with this Rep's harrassment. I stayed as long as I could for the dogs. But finally, I had to quit after I was once again belittled by a coordinator and betrayed by a lazy foster Mom who this coordinator sided with. I stayed supportive of the org until the founder bought the Surry Co property. The Rep program was halted so they could could "campaign for money". In my mind, I was disillusioned with the idea of raising money to buy a building!? This building was also serving as a residence for the founder. The Vick house has horrific memories, and dead dogs are still there in the ground. Moreover, countless dogs were suffering, so that a building could be financed. And the bottom line was seeing, that legislation, the key to changing everything, was at the bottom of the list for DDB. Buying the Vick house was a publicity stunt that took time and money away from dogs languishing in back yards throughout the U.S. And the effectiveness of the org seemed minimal. That is my experience with DDB and I regret to say that I no longer associate myself with the group.

I was an area representative with DDB for 6 years... from 2005 to 2011. For two years I was also a regional coordinator, coordinating several states' area representatives. In the 6 years I served DDB, I independently rescued and rehabilitated over 100 dogs. I asked for vet help only twice, and help with dogs that needed rescue on two occasions. When I joined DDB in 2005, all the reps were separate entities. We managed our own "branch" of DDB, and I always took pride in my work and had much respect for the DDB name. I was impressed yet concerned with the amount of trust that DDB freely poured into their representatives. Aside from a monthly report submission, we were essentially able to make our own decisions, manage our own fundraising and finances, and organize our own rescues. As the organization grew, much of that changed. I began as a representative for my county, dealing with the public and the dogs in my area that needed help. As the DDB name spread, more and more people from all over my state needed assistance, and because DDB had a hard time keeping reps for long periods, at times I would be the only representative for 100s of miles. I was expected to respond to calls and requests for help all over my state, which was essentially impossible for any one person to do, aside from the fact that I was working a full time job on top of my 30+ hours per week of volunteering. Also, because I was more active than many other reps, I would end up receiving calls for areas that HAD representatives... but they wouldn't return calls and answer emails. I discussed this problem several times with regional coordinators and the rep coordinator, but nothing ever changed and the expectations were always there from the organization that I should be doing more. Last summer, after 6 years of dedicated volunteering, we reps were all informed out of the blue, that the group was putting us all on hiatus... but only "temporarily". We were sent a mass email that questioned our loyalty to the group and our dedication to the cause; told us to really think about what being a rep meant to us... the rep program was going to be revamped. I spoke with the founder and she asked that I join the restructuring committee. I emailed the rep coordinator to express my interest, but was never included in the process. One day, we all received an email informing us that the rep program was now going to be completely different; that all of us reps had to work HARDER and that we also ALL needed to REAPPLY to the position in order to be allowed to be a DDB representative. Once the deadline for reapplication came and went and mine went unsubmitted, I never heard from DDB again For all of the years I volunteered for them, all of the dogs that I helped, and all of the good that i gave to their organization, I was never thanked for my service, nor was it even acknowledged that I helped them for as long as I did. I was one of only a handful of representatives that stayed with the group as long as I did. I have met and spent hours with Tami, the founder, at a tabling event, had long phone conversations and email interchanges with the regional coordinators, rep coordinators, and even Tami. I poured my heart into the group, and in the end, my existence was never even acknowledged. I think that DDB has made a mistakes putting all of their resources into the rehab center and in letting their rep progam go. They have taken away resources to hundreds if not thousands of dogs all over the country in order to develop the rehab center that can help only a handful of dogs at a time. They have burned bridges with supporters and spent so much of their funds on the center that I believe could have been put to far better uses. And they continue to solicit donations, despite the fact that their money isn't even going towards public education or rescue at this point. It is being poured into the rehab center. DDB's focus has become so near sighted, I really fear that by pouring all of their resources into the center and by dropping so many of their supporters, that they have brought more harm to the dogs than good. It's a shame because I used to have a lot of respect for this group, but I also never thought they were going to throw away their loyal representatives .

I am an Indiana DDB rep and I personally have, with the help of DDB, rescued many dogs from bad situations, have helped to educate children and pet owners alike, and have helped to change laws in my community. I have always received help and encouragement, and have been inspired by the work that Tamira Thayne, DDB's founder, does. I have been actively involved with animal rescue for nearly 20 years, and this is as fine of an organization as one could want.

SURRY— For members of the rescue group Dogs Deserve Better, moving into the Bad Newz Kennels property was supposed to signify a new beginning.

We were there in June when they started settling in.

"We thought it would be a great fit because the whole idea of turning something negative into something positive, it's very powerful," Tamira Thayne.



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But three months after their relocation from Pennsylvania, former volunteers and employees are calling into question the non-profit's central mission and possible misappropriation of funds.

The latest defection from Dogs Deserve Better, Shannon Allen, the group's former national rescue coordinator.

"I don't agree, a lot of people don't agree with the rehab center, amount of money being spent there," says Allen.

Allen says there is very little oversight on the organization's founder, Tamira Thayne.

The former employee says money from past fundraising has gone missing, unaccounted for. Meanwhile, the organization put limits how many dogs they can take in at a time, and screens their picks based on behavior.

"The point of a rehab center is to help dogs that don't get along with other dogs and other people," says Allen.

Volunteers say Tamira's reasoning for not taking in critical care dogs is that the vet bills were too expensive. Meanwhile, they allege Tamira was fundraising for a new carport for the mansion.

"These were dogs in dire straits that were in very bad condition, needed lots of medical and emotional care," says Allen.

And she isn't the only one losing confidence in the organization. Allen says before their move to Virginia, Dogs Deserve Better had over 150 rescue representatives all over the country. Now there is less than 25 still affiliated with the organization.

"A lot of people left because when we bought this fenced center, we were told to stop rescuing, that we couldn't afford it anymore," she says.

We went to the infamous mansion in Surry to confront Tamira, but no answer. And answers are exactly what these former volunteers are searching for.

Dogs Deserve Better is an organization started by one person...who had a problem with what has been an American accepted way of life, chaining your dog. The founder was visionary and put into words everything wrong with this acceptable practice of neglect and abuse. Others formed a group around her and the group grew quickly to be national. It has been a bumpy ride, and I wont say no problems ever happened along the way. The founder was arrested for helping a dog dying on a chain and she almost went to jail. Laws are not on her side. But she has opened many paths and other anti chaining groups have started now. Her organization has been attacked tremendously by small minded people and jealous people but has withstood the blows. I would highly recommend supporting this visionary to continue her work.

Ddb helps so many dogs in this country that must rescues overlook. Most rescues only help dogs who do not have homes. Ddb goes beyond that and gives animals who live a life on a chain/in a pen and outside in all weather a new chance at life. All animals are living and breathing beings and they have already figured out what humans need to....and that's love. I am so thankful ddb exists and is such a great resource when I personally need help in order to help dogs.

I am the pet parent of a DDB dog that was adopted in May of 2009. We had a wonderful experience and would adopt from them again!! Our dogs are our children and to know that he was spared from a life of 6' loneliness warms my heart. The simple fact is that Dr. Fiala lost a court case against DDB. No one knows the real truth except for DDB and Dr. Fiala. Bottom line though is that the court decided. Now it's time to move on. All the backstabbing and name calling is detrimental to rescue and is taking away from everyone's goal to save animals. It's time for everyone to put on their big girl panties and act as such. All of the time and energy being put into slander and discredit should be redirected into actually saving and helping animals. Think how many more animals could have been saved had counsel not been required. And isn't that who this is ultimately about...the animals??There's already so much drama and backstabbing in the world. Let's stop adding to it and move on. Everyone.

I don't know where you come up with this awful spewing of hate for this organization. DDB has saved so many dogs from a life of misery and pain. They have given them compassion for the first time in their lives. I will always support this group no matter what anyone says. I don't know how you can say anything bad about people that care so much for animals. I have followed this group for a while now and they have always put they animals first!! Keep on saving animals from a life of hell DDB. You have made me cry happy tears so many times. I thank you for that!

I shared an address with Dogs Deserve Better for their Valentines Day Event. The Dogs I saw were kept chained in an auto yard with no where to go to get out of the heat of North Carolina. I wondered if they had ever gotten any type of Flea meds or heartworm. I walked past these dogs every day and it broke my heart. I asked DDB to send them a Valentines asking the owner to take the dogs inside! Next thing I knew the dogs were gone, no longer chained up!! It made me so happy to realize that someone cared enough to do something! NC had just passed a no tethering law and I believe I brought these dogs to the attention of the right people!! Thanks DDB, you are an AMAZING Organization!!!

Dogs Deserve Better is a phenomenal organization that has done more for chained dogs than can be mentioned here. When DDB entered the anti-chaining scene they created a new model for activism, advocacy, awareness, and rescue which has continued to thrive and flourish. I can not and will not believe lies spread on facebook, instead I will believe the true and real experiences I have had as a DDB supporter and advocate. The tactics of bullying and abuse employed against DDB are modeled, at best, on the tactics employed by middle-school girls wishing to bring down the esteem and self-image of their peers. Look at the negative reviews on this page, all of them represent hearsay, rather than concrete life experience with this organization. Shame on those who choose to bring down a fantastic organization rather than face their own inadequacies as animal advocates and human beings. In the end DDB will prevail: bullies never win as they are constantly trying to bring another down in order to bring themselves up. DDB will continue to work for the animals: what will you do?

If a CEO does not pay themselves a salary, all the while this being the sole energy of that CEO, how do they make their money? It is irresponsible to suggest that any organization will be successful if the mainstay of the organization, the person who began it, the person who works tirelessly to make it work, to make it successful, the one who yes, lives in a refurbished mansion with a lot of dogs that were rescued and that they continue to bring in rescued dogs. Let's get real here. Look up Ocean Conservancy; look up Humane Society;, PCRM; NAVS. Look up these charities on CHARITY NAVIGATOR, and see what they pay themselves. Granted, the amount of money going to these charities is far and above what DDB is garnering for their efforts, but they get paid a very tidy sum. Why not the CEO of DDB get paid for her work? Where would she work from if not from a central location? A cardboard box? Where would a lot of rescued and rehabilitating dogs go, if not in the mansion they acquired? there is no sin in making a living doing what you love. Rescuing dogs is her life, and her passion. There are not many of us who would be in the situation, or be able to help in the movement to make the lives of these companion animals much better than when and where they came from. DDB could maybe do things better, but for now, they are doing a good job, and saving a lot of dogs from horrific circumstances. I will continue to support them, and look to them for assistance when I see a dog in need. Their example has helped me to make the difference in the lives of two very different dogs, and I will continue to look to them for the chance to continue.

My family adopted a dog via DDB and thought they were a wonderful organization. They were incredibly helpful and worked with us to find a dog who would be a good fit with our small children. We ended up with a much-loved beautiful dog who brings joy to all of us every day. I support DDB and the amazing work they are doing to help chained and penned dogs.

It's sad when people can not accept losing a court case and then choose to lie and slander. Especially a group dedicated to helping dogs. Dogs living on a chain is exceptionally cruel whether people realize it or not. The head of DDB risked her liberty to save a very old, sick dog off a chain. That really tells me all I need to know about her. That dog spent the few months they had left happy, healthy and loved because of Ms. Thayne. She has also staged several chain in's as protest. She is doing things, unlike the sore loser. It's disgusting that anyone would slander those doing good work. Only dogs will suffer for this nonsense.

Careful what you post on DOGS DESERVE BETTER's rescue page because if you want to reserve judgement and hear both sides of the story so you leave a post asking them about the allegations that they abandon their foster dogs, use the donations (collected for these dogs) for themselves, kidnap rescue dogs from their adoptive homes and about a email statement made by founder, Tami, that to "euthanize" a dog who is known to bite is the "right thing to do" instead of rehabilitating them - they will NOT address your questions, will delete your post and then will BLOCK you - all while commenting on their page that they "do not block" anybody. Then, you can't dispute that statement, cuz you know, you are BLOCKED. Makes me wonder 1.) how many other people have been blocked? and 2.) WHY did they DELETE MY COMMENT then BLOCK ME instead of answering my questions? That only shows me that the allegations are true and they don't want their supporters/followers to know. This organization is suppose to be a RESCUE. The best interest of the dogs is suppose to be their main concern. I am sharing this because a rescue that operates/behaves like DDB (and who has a founder who is as rude and uncaring as Tami as is apparent in her email to a foster mom) it shines a negative light on other rescues who truly DO have the dogs best interest at heart, who truly DO use donations on the dogs, who truly DO support their fosters - because people could start thinking that other rescues operate this way and could be hesitant in donating or fostering. I can't post this on DDB's wall because, you know, I've been blocked (even though they "don't block") so I am sharing this here so that people can be aware of what is going on. DDB has taken one dog from his doggie daycare and away from his foster/adoptive mom (a veterinarian who nursed him back from starvation), because Joel's mom reported them for mismanaging donations (not giving the donated money to the dogs the money was donated for) and for abandoning their dogs at their foster homes. Now, they are refusing to take back another foster dog (a dog whom needs medical treatment and DDB has refused to release the funds that were donated to THIS DOG for this treatment - ask his foster/adoptive mom about this) and has, instead, told the foster/adopter, in an email, to "euthanize" the dog.

I don`t have lots to say, but my friend attended a conference that Tammie attended, my friend had a $500.00 check in her pocket, she approached Tammie and Tammie didn`t give her the time of day, in fact my friend stated that Tammie was looking for more important people, so she stated that she put the check back in her pocket and walked away, she stated that she felt that Tammie was only looking for the big folks to interact with, and Tammie didn`t feel that she was one of those..how darn sad is that..this lady has a rescue of her own, but wanted to donate $500.00 to DDB, out of her own pocket, as she believed in this rescue because of me..makes me feel bad, but not so bad, that she didn`t give her money to DDB..that in the end made me feel WONDERFUL, but how sad of the dogs that DDB lies and says that they help.

Why are there so few pit bulls at their new multi-million dollar estate, formerly owned by Michael Vick???

DDB as whole has saved allot of desperate dogs. I will give them that on a National level and believe it is a greatly needed. I hope another organization forms to really help all dogs in need chained regardless of breed...and honestly bumps DDB out. Did you know the National facility that was so generously donated to does not take in PITBULLS..Ironically this is where Michael Vick killed them. What a supporter of dog rescue. Breed specific? So LEAVE THE PITBULLS chained? Dogs of all walks of abuse and chained need rescued to be ban a breed from a facility that is supposed to help all chained dogs is misrepresenting the cause. My personal story is why I left. We were told to fund raise for the DDB National org. and we were expected as a group to raise $15,000 for the Vick property purchase. We had dogs that did not have a place to go or boarding $ and when I raised the question in front of the group and my rep. I was told that we need to focus on raising the $15,000 for the facility and those dogs can wait. I left that day and never went back. Personally, I believe the founder mis- uses the funds and is shady. As a past supporter and volunteer for a local chapter in WA State I will say my experience with them has been appalling. I have experienced dogs being ignored that really needed the help. I believe the group leader and "leaders" are self righteous and have used donations for their own selfish needs. DDB just registered in WA this year but has been accepting financial donations prior to being registered in the State of WA. these numbers are not accounted for... This is truth. Check with the state of WA registered non profit charitable organizations. They are not worthy of becoming a GuidStar charity even if their cause is good, the people that run it are bad.

DDB is all about money, NOT the dogs. They are not bothering to get their dogs back from fosters that can no longer foster them. They talk to people very badly. If you question them about anything they will block you from their Facebook page so you can no longer ask anything. I would not recommend this so called organization to anyone. Please be careful people!!

I have volunteered with Dogs Deserve Better since 2004 and wish to state that DDB is an outstanding organization. They have helped educate the public about chaining, obtained veterinary care for dogs just off the chain and have fostered many dogs. I've worked with them on many projects including rescuing Doogie (see website) and dozens of other events. Dogs Deserve Better has been an unrelenting force in the mission to get dogs off chains and back into loving homes.
Recently there has been a group, you know who you are, who have been maligning DDB because an ex fosterer had the dog removed from her care because she indicated she intended to chain the dog outside from time to time. She took DDB to court and lost the case. Now her group is maligning this great group on FB and other sites like this. They are putting a lot of time and effort into taking down DDB because this one foster had to relinquish her foster. It's irrational people such as this who do not understand that they are not helping the cause of anti-chaining but are attempting to move it backwards in time. There are far too many petty jealousies inside animal rights movements and I believe it is only to the detriment of the animals these organizations are representing.
I have 7 years of intimate knowledge of DDB and I can assure you that this is without a doubt the best anti-chaining advocacy groups to be found. Kudos to DDB and all it's very diffiuclt work.

Here is a statement Shannon Allen posted on a facebook discussion group on August 6, 2011 when she still worked for DDB. As you can see the things she says about DDB and Tami contrast directly with the smears she put on this page.

Which Shannon is telling the truth and which one is lying? Can anyone trust what she says?

Shannon Allen
I had never heard of Pit Bull Legal News until this. This is where I saw the majority of the court documents. All Tami gave me was the first court order denying the TRO and the altered adoption contract. I don't think Tami nor Mr. Karp knew that PBLN was posting all of the documents initially. How fun would it be for Mr. Karp himself to sue her for libel : ) I take all of this very personal.

I wouldn't affiliate myself with an organization that does the things that BJH is claiming. I have a good relationship with Tami, that doesn't mean we don't disagree at times, but in the end I KNOW Tami is about and only about saving animals. If for one moment I doubted that, I would quietly move on. I picked up a chained dog around 4am one morning after receiving a call. Vespa had been mauled while chained and escaped. I don't know how long she was on the run with her injuries but was she severely septic. I asked Tami if we should let her go or try to save her. Tami said , "Save her!" Two days and $1500 later, Vespa died at the ER clinic. Tami was there for me at 2am, 2 days before Christmas when Vespa died. I will always be grateful for that.

There are other organizations, but I believe in DDB, our mission, and our leadership. I have learned and grown as a rescuer through DDB, I have made thousands of wonderful people (like yourselves), and have been able to so much more to help chained dogs through DDB. Even if I disagreed with DDB in this situation, which I don't, I still would not support Dr. Fiala. She has proven herself to be vindictive, unstable, and unreasonable (to name a few).

BJH mocks DDB for doing the same things that thousands of rescues do. If they would have simply stuck to, 'Bringing Joel Home', they would at least be somewhat credible. But once they started calling names, attacking the center, attacking Tami's wedding, attacking Chain Off, etc. It was obvious that this had nothing to do with Joel. If you notice, Joel is mentioned less frequently every day.

I came to know of DDB through facebook interactions. As I began following DDB on facebook I started noticing that people who were asking legitimate questions about DDB's actions were treated very poorly and ridiculed and even called names. I myself had questions for them about a dog named Joel and how they removed (in my opinion, downright stole)) him for the care of one of their volunteers. Within a couple off days of inquiring, I was promtly banned from being able to ask questions or respond to others comments. Also, my previous posts were deleted from their page. This was actually happening to anybody and everybody that dared ask or say anything that they didn't like. I have seen some of the most disgusting name calling, accusations and downright lies being told by those that are supporting this organization. I have also read the testimony of many former volunteers and supporters, who have legitimate questions that never seem to get answered. If you are legitimate, why cannot peoples questions be answered, what are you afraid of? Personally, since I have been following the DDB organization, I think they have done more to harm the dog rescue cause than they have to help it.

All the people giving 1 star reviews to DDB are just following the rants of a rejected adopter and a disgruntled ex volunteer. They are blindly following and believing lies posted by these 2 people, Shannon Allen and Suzanne Fiala. There is ZERO truth to what they write. DDB is rescuing dogs and every single dog posted to their website is addressed and the majority of them are rescued. DDB is a wonderful organization that has saved countless lives and will continue to do so. DDB has done nothing wrong, has not broken any laws, and has done nothing unethical. The scorned and disgruntled ex volunteer and rejected adopter claim they know how many reps DDB has, how many volunteers DDB has, how many dogs are at the center when the truth is, they are clueless. Nothing they say and nothing their "followers" has one ounce of truth to it. They are doing their best to try and stop a reputable rescue organization that saves thousands of lives and is the first and most effective anti-chaining group in the world. All I can say is that they must hate animals. DDB is the best.

I would give ZERO stars, if that were an option.
I was a volunteer for DDB Washington for 6 months, and was loaded up with ELEVEN dogs to foster in that short time. My first experience with a large rescue org certainly opened my eyes to thepotential for fraud and corruption in the world of animal rescue.
DDB never repaid (any of my fostering costs totaling over $1600 - despite receipts turned in per protocol, and promises of reimbursement. When I caught the local state rep lying, misappropriating funds into her personal bank account and otherwise acting unethically; I publicly exposed my concerns after the national chapter ignored my concerns. In an apparent effort to get me to hush up and deflect attention from my provable claims, the organization not only "took back" the almost-dead dog I had fostered adopted via verbal agreement with my state rep, but proceeded to attack my credibility and character with a national smear campaign via perjured court documents, social media attacks and proactively attempting to ruin my professional career.
This organization may have had a pure motive at its inception, and it HAS had many loyal, hardworking volunteers 'walking the walk' of animal advocacy and rescue. But the national CEO and founder, just like the former WA state rep, has knowingly engaged in fraud and illegal activities since the organizations' inception. Soliciting donations in numerous states without registering with the individual states as an active charity, thus violating the Consumer Protection Act for years (the CEO registered as a state charity in Washington state after 9 years of soliciting funds in my state the DAY AFTER I publicly exposed her org), the CEO paying herself a salary, living rent-free in a mansion and paying lawyers to fend off complaints such as mine, all with the dollars of well-meaning donors: all suggest that this so-called rescue organization is more about media attention and personal financial gain than about the dogs it purports to 'save'.
While claiming to rescue 'hundreds of dogs' yearly, the actual number of dogs taken in and placed properly in permanent homes remains unknown. Our local state chapter as well as the national group operate with the 'revolving door' principle of taking dogs in with much publicity and farming them out as quickly as possible to inappropriate and sometimes completely unreliable 'homes'. Also the animal's medical needs are often unmet. Cases in point, a pup I fostered in March, a blind, beautiful young pitbull named kYLE, is again on the 'adoption' list at just barely a year of age. Kyle, this special needs dog, is listed as being "not good with children or cats". He was fine with both when in my foster home, which leaves one to wonder exactly what lack of attention and training has led to these disclaimers as to Kyle's current temperament. Kyle's mother LADY, whom I also fostered in January and into February 2011, has been billed as being in a permanent, loving home in court testimony. Yet she has bounced in and out of at least 8 foster care and multiple failed adoptions in the past 7 months and to date STILL is a dog without a home. A wonderful dog that I fostered with her pups, there is no reason for Lady to be homeless-other than poor placement into inappropriate homes.
I have learned the hard way of the corruption and vice in animal rescue - as in every area of life there are opportunists who will use the 'underdogs' of society for their own gain.
DDB, Inc. needs a forensic audit to investigate misappropriation of funds from the state levels to the national level. Hopefully the IRS will take a much closer look at the questionable accounting practices of national fund solicitations by illegal operation in multiple states, theft by state reps, and an absence of an objective board of directors minding the store.
To the IRS: need evidence? Contact myself and my group of investigators - we have documentation for all claims mentioned herein.
People sincerely motivated to become involved in animal advocacy and rescue, steer clear of this duplicitous and fraudulent organization whose actions speak louder than their pretty photo-ops, feel-good vignettes and anecdotal success stories and endless campaign for donations. /
Suzanne Fiala, MD / Seattle, WA

The mandate of DDB is great..however putting it all into perspective is a different story..I have never heard that a president of a NON PROFIT group, pays herself $40,000.00 per year, has no mortgage, receives travel allowances..and so on..
Wheter or not Shannon is crazy or not, has no bearing..What does matter is the FACTS, anyone can read the spread sheet..As for Dr. Fiala and losing Joel, because of him being at a doggy daycare, is another excuse..Joel was taken because Dr. Fiala ASKED valid questions about finances..Tell me the difference, doggy daycare versus rehab center..So why does Tami not want the financial items to be published? it is a public site..right? I have never heard of anyone that is a VOLUNTEER, getting paid this amount of money per year..it is pathetic..When was the last time you saw her in action..WITH THE DOGS? all we see is her constant begging for funds..for people to buy calendars, cards, jewellery..her complaining how stressed she is, she only has 14 dogs AND she has help..complaining that she has not left her house for a few days..WHO CARES..neither have I. Many of us have loads of rescue dogs, run around, put the animals before our family..she wanted this life..She is welcome to leave this life any time..the sooner the better for all the dog involved..Go play with your BARBIE..( I am saying, get out of the life of dog rescue..

I was a paid employee of Dogs Deserve Better for 1 year and a volunteer for 2. I can say for fact that founder Tamira Ci Thayne has little concern for animals and a greater concern for money and fame. She was made aware in 2008 that she was illegally soliciting and accepting donations in states where she was not registered as a 501c3. She regular abandons foster dogs, refuses to pay these dogs expenses after promising to do so. People who have worked with Tami in her home office have reported seeing her kick and shake dogs, have seen her pay her house payment, car payment, utilities, and even groceries with donations. The organization would be great if Thayne would step down.

DDB is the best organization in this country!!!! These people spend countless hours helping the voiceless dog's that need help. They helped me with a dog that was unwanted by it's owner. Keep up the GREAT work!

I have never seen anything but good works from DDB. I know for a fact that their reps work endless hours to better the life of dogs. I also know first hand that these reps spend a lot of their own money to assure that the rescues are given a better life. I suggest that instead of criticizing DDB that those of you that find vault use that time to rescue animals yourself. I really thing that would be more beneficial to society. I personally have three rescue dogs and it makes me sick to think what would have happened. Do I this many dogs at one time? NO, but I certainly would not have let them pass me by and live a horrible life! So I can rest knowing that I helped.

I have watched DDB advocate for, educate the public, and rescue chained dogs all over the US for many years. They have made leaps and bounds in anti-tethering legislation. Every rep I have ever met has been passionate, respectful, and eager to help and make change.

I have made many donations to DDB and have always been thanked and sent a receipt. I will continue to support DDB through donations, and I have even added them to my will.

I had the honor or meeting their founder, Tami Thayne, who is great woman of strength and resolve. She is out in the field, in the trenches with her volunteers.

DDB is an amazing organization! The many volunteers are devoted, hard working people, and the founder is one of the strongest women I know! I've known Tami for almost 15 years now, and I can't even count how many of her rescues I have actually met and watched blossom from terrified shells of once beautiful souls to romping, playing, loving beings of pure love and light. It makes my heart break to think of how many dogs would have remained voiceless if it hadn't have been for DDB! Thank you, DDB, for all that you've done, and all that you will continue to do! The new property is a blessing!

Dogs Deserve Better is an awesome organization. We adopted a dog from them and have been involved in volunteering ever since. Without them, our dog would still be chained to a dog house in GA 24/7 and what kind of life is that? Thanks for all you do, DDB!

BEST ORGANIZATION anyone could ever volunteer for or support.. DDB IS the voice for the chained dogs across the nation.. Without DDB so many forgotten chained dog would die at the end of a chain..

GREAT WORK DDB!!! Proud to be a part of it all..

Never reimbursed by DDB for the money I spent on one their dogs... seems to a common theme with the owner Tamira burning people and not paying up as promised.

I had posted on their website asking them to explain why they took a formerly chained dog named Joel away from his adopter after she questioned the mis use of funds raised for the dog. She spent over $1000 dollars on getting the dog healthy and happy, she was never reimbursed, yet the DDB of Washington State continued to raise funds for Joels care. This mis use lead to the public finding out that DDB is not registered in most states as a 501c non profit. The Washington state site sent in a registration 4 days after they were questioned. DDB state organizations are raising monies illegally in most cases and are punishing those who question them.

It is sad that they fire volunteers that did a lot of good just to bring in new volunteers The great volunteers you have been in contact with are gone and the list is always changing. It has to be poor volunteer management.