My Nonprofit Reviews

Hope For Paws pulls animals -- mainly dogs -- off the streets, pays for their vet bills and general rehab out of the donations they are given, and then releases the dogs to other rescue organizations who then foster the dogs and take care of the business of finding them forever homes. It's a small organization that's received worldwide attention because of the expert videographer skills of its founder, Eldad Hagar. I see nothing wrong with his method of rescuing the dogs in this way and handing them off to other organizations. Those organizations agree to accept the animals and they get a plug in the credit page on his YouTube videos, which are seen by millions of avid fans.

As a regular donor, I am beginning to feel a little concern for the lack of transparency about how the funds he collects are being used. He has a website, but no financial information of any kind is posted on it. As a 501c3 I don't think he is required to post anything, but at this point his organization has surely collected millions and enjoys a steady income from the thousands of fans who are set up for regular monthly contributions. I would just like to see a pie chart, showing the amount of money that goes to veterinary care, administrative, personal salaries and so on. I would like to know who receives salary from Hope For Paws. I have seen nearly all the videos and as time has gone on, Eldad is taking less of an active role in the rescues. Many times, he is the one hanging back and videotaping everything and his lovely blond assistants are doing all the work. I would like some reassurance that Loreta and the other rescuers who work with him are not just donating their time and effort for free.

It is a good thing they are doing. Their video work calls attention to the plight of homeless animals in a way that few rescue organizations can match. Eldad and his team frequently venture into risky situations -- in landfills and garbage dumps, under freeways, in abandoned buildings -- where many rescue organizations do not go. They are brave, persistent and compassionate. A little -- a very little -- financial transparency would go a long way towards easing lingering doubts about their sincerity.