Questioning DRC

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Hoping for some good info here-

I recently commented on a post on a social media group for local doodle owners and a response has left me a little concerned. The group helps organize local doodle romps/playdates and at the most recent romp, they did some fundraising to donate to a rescue. The post was asking for recommendations of different organizations to possibly donate the money to and I commented recommending Doodle Rescue Collective, Inc. After commenting, one of the members replied stating that DRC has not been a 501c3 since 2015 when the IRS revoked their status. I was shaken by this and thought back to my annual fundraiser "pawty" I throw to raise money for DRC and remembered how I was never able to get any sort of communication with any of the DRC administrative members that I reached out to, specifically in reference to nonprofit info to provide to some of our donating companies.

As much as I hate to say it, this information has now made me a little skeptical about DRC and makes me feel a little uneasy about whether I should have been sending all of those donations to them over the past few years. I love to support a good cause, but now I am wondering if I was actually sending all of that money to a legitimate organization. I don't know very much about how the nonprofit world operates, but I believe all of the nonprofit organizations I know of and have supported in the past hold this status and the DRC website even states on the homepage that it is a 501c3, which I am now led to believe is false.

Thanks for any info you can give me!

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Here is your post, Nancy :) Thank you for your comment!

I would like to add that the DRC is a valid rescue and not a fraud.  How do I know this?  I know it because I am one of their many volunteers.  I call about dogs, go to shelters to check on dogs, pick up dogs for the rescue from the shelter and even sometimes adopt them outright and relinquish them to the DRC. I pick dogs up for re-homing {yep Charlie is my re-homing failure! :-) }.  I transport dogs from shelters or former homes to fosters and  I have fostered.  I screen applications sent to me by another volunteer.  I check references, especially vet references.  I personally contact potential adopters and phone interview them - it's amazing what one learns when talking on the phone to someone. I visit homes.  I have been involved in meet and greets. 

I have also donated money when I have it.  For me, it is about rescuing dogs and saving their lives, but I understand that you have concerns.  I might also, if I wasn't out there doing 'stuff' for the DRC.  Money is the least of it, but oh so important to cover basic costs - shelter fees, vet check up, neutering/spaying, shots and often more extensive medical care. Whether you claim or receive a tax deduction for donating cash is a bonus, but shouldn't preclude one from helping any cause that you feel passionately about.  Humans need to help others - and I'll bet you do that, Stephanie, in so many ways and places and don't even think about what you have done as a donation, but think of it as helping out.

If you have any question about the validity of this rescue, PM me.  I'll say the same thing privately as publicly.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Thanks, Stephanie.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Thank you for all of the help, everyone. I think I saw the reply to my post on FB and may have overreacted a bit. I have donated quite a bit of money to DRC over the past few years from our fundraisers, but quite frankly couldn't care less about the tax deduction side of things. I think my knee-jerk reaction was more so a panic from not wanting to be one of "those" people on Facebook out there recommending something that is not what it says it is like I see from others so often and get frustrated with (bad advice, breeders that aren't reputable, etc.).

Thank you for your help- I look forward to continuing to support DRC and their efforts :)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Love you, Stephanie.  You are right to question.  I hope those of us who know for sure that the DRC is reputable, reassured you.  

[Stacy, Bruno, Molly and Gracie]

Is this group the same as Oddles of Doodles? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

No. Completely separate groups.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/50639015285/

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://doodlerescue.org/

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I also know first hand the amazing work that DRC does for Doodles every day.  When you're spending your day helping to save dogs I can totally understand how this could happen....."do I spend today filling out IRS forms or pulling a Doodle from a shelter?"  The 501c3 status doesn't dissuade me from donating when I can.  I do think it's great that obtaining reinstatement is "in the works".  Again, thank you to all the DRC volunteers who do so much for our wonderful Doodles.