Some people brand themselves as “heroes” though they may scarcely qualify as functional human beings.
This is not just true of some political leaders, cult founders and media magnates. High-profile “influencers” and individuals with delusions of grandeur — or other mental illness — are also found in the animal rescue world.
A few have good intentions. Others hatch nefarious plots. Often, they don’t have the credentials or the resources to adequately care for the animals they “save.” Almost always, the results are disastrous for companion animals.
On August 11, Animal Control authorities in Riverside County, California, seized 76 dogs from a man living in a homeless encampment. Sheriffs deputies reportedly arrested John Dunlap on suspicion of trespassing and took him to a nearby hospital where he was placed on a medical hold.
Authorities told ABC News that Dunlap had a long history with Riverside County Animal Services (RCAS). Dunlop claimed to be operating as a rescue, though he essentially ran an unlicensed kennel. According to a RCAS Facebook post, dogs “were kept in single kennels and some were bunched up in pen-like structures. A buildup of animal waste created a fly infestation and some dogs suffered from flystrike in their ears.” About half the dogs found were not spayed or neutered. All of them were living in kennels covered by tarps, but still exposed to extreme heat.
“[Dunlop] kind of bounced around from property to property,” said Lt. Lesley Huennekens with RCAS. “He doesn’t abuse or neglect the dogs, but he's a classic hoarder . . . Unfortunately, we've tried to help him but he refuses to take any of our assistance.”
The seized dogs were transported to the county’s San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus where they received veterinary services. Three of the dogs were euthanized due to “severe health conditions,” two for “aggressive traits.” Many of the dogs were registered to Dunlop per microchip scans, though some were registered to rescue organizations that declined responsibility. Dunlop’s failure to request a post-seizure hearing cleared the way for RCAS to re-home the dogs. Many are still available for adoption.
Jonny Preston (AKA Jonathan Cossu), the self-proclaimed “Dog Rescue King,” hasn’t lived in squalor. Quite the contrary.
Flying under cover of names like “Dog Meat Fighters” and “Urgent Dogs Rescue,” Preston has bilked hundreds of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting contributors who believed they were helping a legitimate rescue organization.
In a cease and desist order levied by the California Attorney General in July, 2019, Preston was found to be in violation of 18 counts including misrepresenting his organization’s status as tax-exempt, soliciting donations for dogs represented by other rescues and funneling the proceeds into his personal account.
He was also charged with making false statements. In a 2018 Facebook post, Preston posed in front of the California Attorney General’s office and declared that his rescue, Urgent Dogs of L.A., was “fully trusted by the Attorney General here in Sacramento.” Total assessed penalties exceeded $400K.
Most appalling were his numerous solicitations for dogs with severe medical conditions and to combat the dog meat trade. In their ruling, the California AG said that Preston provided no evidence that he’d allocated any funds collected toward Preston’s professed goals.
Many in the legitimate rescue world have called Preston out for his deception and for concealing information regarding the dogs in his care. Valid questions have been met with venomous tirades and death threats on social media.
Others rescue “heroes” assume a more modest disguise. A “Flipper” may pull several at-risk dogs from shelters only to sell them for a profit. Suspect anyone who stammers around questions about a pet’s health or temperament or who won’t provide a tax ID number verifying their non-profit status.
The hoarder and scammer/flipper may have different motivations, but the result of their actions is the same: the animals suffer.
Frauds steal money and human resources away from reputable charities that have the protocols and infrastructure to best care for animals. Wittingly or unwittingly, frauds create more homeless and endangered animals through their avarice, neglect or ineptitude. Those who adopt from frauds often discover that their newly adopted pet is riddled with disease or has severe behavioral issues. When the fraud refuses to take the animal back, they are often surrendered to already-stretched shelters or sometimes dumped by the side of the road. Buying dogs through the dog meat industry — only to sell them later for profit — only perpetuates the very practice frauds claim to abhor.
Frauds — and those who patronize them — severely compromise a homeless pet’s chances of being loved and nurtured.
A sobering and maddening reality legitimate shelters and rescues face daily.
Jana Lovell of Code Red K-9 Crew contributed to this article.