Operation Paws for Homes

Dear Ms [redacted] : In response to the compliant received on April 10, 2016, we provide the following information and summaryWhile this response is long, we strive to provide a detailed summary to assist in your evaluation that requires a separation from fact, information and heated emotions that have driven the complaintFollowing review of this letter, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact usWe look forward to working with the Revdex.com towards resolving this issue Executive Summary Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) is a nonprofit 501cdog rescue organizationWe have been in existence since and have grown throughout the DC metro regionWe have provided care and loving homes to over 5,dogs since our inception – and this is our first such complaint in this time frame and throughout this number of adoptions to the Revdex.com The dog in question, Josie, came from a rural shelter in South CarolinaThe adopter in question received the standard adoption information throughout the processJosie received the customary care that is provided to all dogs in our care – and far exceeds the health regimen followed by most organizations in the DC metro area – including SPCA and other related organizations We attempted to reach a resolution with said adopter and were met with resistanceAs a result, and based on the explanation that follows, we would be willing to entertain the same form of resolution based on two conditions – as explained in detail below Overview of Process Before the dog arrives – OPH rescues dogs from rural shelters, prepares the dogs for adoption, and offers adoption services to potential adopters in the DC metro areaThe rescue process begins when we commit to a dog from a shelter and coordinate logistics and vetting We communicate with the shelter, volunteers on the ground, transport companies, vet offices, and with our OPH volunteers Our standard operating procedures outline the vaccinations, spay/neuter, tests, temperament information gathering, and a host of issues that we require our shelter partners to complete prior to a dog’s arrival This is a big undertaking for each dog, but the goal is to ensure information is conveyed to our medical team, among other necessary functional areas within OPH In anticipation of dogs arriving, we coordinate follow up vaccines, vet appointments as needed, and prepare dog supplies to be provided to fosters and boarding partners (folders, contracts, probiotics and vitamins, dewormer, and vaccines) Adoption Process – Once an applicant becomes approved for adoption, we move forward in trying to find a good match for the applicantWe recommend dogs who are in our care as well as inform the applicant how to visit our website to select a dog for adoptionOnce a dog is selected by the applicant, we send a detailed Meet & Greet emailThe purpose of the Meet & Greet email is to (a) educate the adopters on the process forward, (b) provide important information about dogs and their care, (c) provide an advanced copy of the Adoption Contract for their review, (d) to provide details on the actual meeting of the dog, and – most important to this matter – (e) provide information on the state of health and well-being for adopted dogs who come from rural sheltersAs you will see in Attachment A, we provide an explicit, detailed summary on the normalcy of dogs having worms and the importance of talking with their vet and – in most instances – continuing the deworming process that is started by the shelter and OPHThe Adopters for Josie received this information in advance of meeting JosieThey were given ample time to review such information and ask questionsThey did not pose any such questions to their adoption coordinator I have highlighted the relevant section in Attachment A and include the disclaimer in regards to worms herein Some medical issues are dormant or not observed until after the adoptionPlease remember that our dogs come from shelters in rural areasAs a result, they often require multiple dewormings to ensure the dog is worm freeOPH provides 1-(sometimes more) dewormers while the dog is in our careMany dogs will require a third or fourth dewormer at a point after adoptionWorms, coccidia, and giardia are common and inexpensive conditions that can occur in any dog While all dogs are dewormed while in the rescue, it is always possible future deworming will be required due to these naturally occurring factors In addition, we include the documents attached to the standard Meet & Greet Email as Attachment BAgain, we provide an abundance of information so adopters can educate themselves in advance of taking home a dogWe highlight the normalcy of worms in dogs who come from rural shelters in the documents provided and, again, state that people should be aware of this issue and that we do not reimburse for vet bills associated with wormsI copy the relevant sections here for ease of review (emphasis included in original publication of materials provided to Adopter): Pet’s Health OPH and our shelter and rescue partners do not knowingly transport or adopt out a dog that is sick, injured or aggressiveThere are several ailments, illnesses, and viruses that can take hours, days, and even weeks to display symptomsA few of these ailments include parvo, kennel cough, intestinal parasites, worms and mangeMany times, the stress of transport, a new schedule and/or a new environment can cause the undetected health issues to begin to show symptomsOPH is committed to providing the best care we can for all of the dogs we rescueBasic vaccines and deworming are provided prior to transport (unless health or age prohibit such actions) and we provide additional deworming, vaccinations, parasite treatment and probiotics for every dog that arrives in our careIf a serious health issues arises, we ask that you contact us so we can provide guidance and contact the shelter or location where the dog came fromWe encourage you to read the “Guide to New Arrivals” that we provide as well as read up on common ailmentsWe cannot give you prescription meds and we cannot reimburse for your vet bills We reiterate the normalcy of worms in the adoption packetWe even list the dewormer and fecal as an “expected cost” that adopters should be ready for during their post-adoption vet visitPlease see the Blue Packet in Attachment B, and copied herein for ease of reference: Expected Costs: With any adopted dog, you need to be prepared to incur the following costs immediately following adoption: Vet Visit – Office fees range from $- $Heartworm preventative for year Flea preventative for year Most vets will also recommend a fecal examination to ensure there are no residual worms Many states and counties require you to register your dog and will charge a fee for such registration Additional vaccinations outside the scope of what OPH provides - Includes Lyme and Lepto Activate your microchip – This is well worth it in case something spokes your new companion Dewormer – we do deworm your dog, but many dogs require multiple cycles of dewormer Following the receipt of the Meet & Greet Email, we arranged to have a volunteer conduct the Meet & Greet with JosieDuring the meet & greet, Adopters are given every opportunity to ask questions regarding Josie and her historyAny questions that a volunteer cannot answer at that time, we encourage adopters to reach out to the Adoption team for answers Post Adoption Medical Inquiries/Discussions re Josie In addition to the volunteers who are the lifeblood of our organization, we actually have two part-time employees who are dedicated to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our dogsOnly a handful of rescues in the DC Metro area employ personnel to help oversee the vetting and care of the dogs in their organizationThese coordinators work diligently to ensure all vaccinations are completed, preventatives administered, and surgeries/vet visits are scheduled as neededWe also work to ensure all medical records are available – at a moment’s notice – to adopters before, after and during the adoption processOur Medical Coordinator was available to the Adopters and spoke with them at length regarding the worm situationOn multiple occasions, we requested information from the vet visit as we wanted to allow our Vet liaisons to review such informationIt took several days for us to obtain said documentationThe Adopters vet did a disservice to the Adopters in that they lead them to believe that the surgery was necessitated by a worm infestationAs explained below, Josie tested negative for worms at the Adopter’s vet officeWe will be reporting this issue to the Maryland Board of Veterinarian Examiners Medical Summary As the Revdex.com may not be aware of standard procedures regarding dogs in shelters and rescues, we wanted to provide some additional information to assist with your review Worms – Overview and OPH Protocol It is not standard practice for shelters and rescue organizations to conduct fecal tests in dogs that are in their careIn fact, most shelters and rescues simply assume dogs have worms – due to the commonality of this parasite in the incoming dogs – and treat for worms as a common practice Josie’s Worm Treatment In Josie’s case, she received a fecal examination at the shelter (which OPH pays for) that confirmed she had wormsAs a result, she received her initial treatment for the worms at the shelterSpecifically, she was treated 2/29-3/with Panacur She was then given Sentinel, which treats the following parasites: adult roundworms, adult hookworms, whipworms, and prevents the development of flea eggsShe was given another dewormer - Pyrantel - on 3/4/See Attachment C She received a follow up dewormer once she arrived to OPH and the boarding facility that cared for her in coordination with OPHShe had an allwormer on 3/12/- Canine All Wormer offers total protection from all intestinal worms (including roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm and hydatid tapeworm) This continued treatment and prevention for any parasite identified above until Josie was due to for the hw/all wormer that was to be given April 4th As confirmed by the Adopter’s vet via a fecal examination, Josie no longer had worms after adoption Adopter’s Vet Visit Detailed Summary Following the Adoption, the Adopter visited a vetThis was a vet she had just met and never used before as she is a new dog ownerBelow are notes regarding the vet visits – that are included at Attachment D Comparative Analysis of Adopter’s Compliant As you will see from the summary of the vet notes from the Adopter’s vet, the Adopter’s written compliant to the Revdex.com is a misrepresentation of the factsThe Adopter’s claims to you – the Revdex.com – do not match information she provided to the vet she entrusted to care for JosiePlease review the information herein to evaluate where the facts vsmisrepresentations are in regards to the health of JosieTo assist, we provide the following comparative analysis Adopter Compliant #1: Vomiting The Adopter claims that Josie threw up leaving the boarding facility post-adoptionShe dismissed the vomiting as nervesHowever, according to her own vet records, the Adopter informed the vet that Josie threw up for the first time on March See Attachment DThis was six days post-adoption Despite this discrepancy in the Adopter’s story, OPH contacted the doggie daycare where Josie lived while in OPH’s careJosie lived at a well-respected doggie daycareThe dogs are under constant surveillance in the open areas as it is a cageless boarding facilityThe staff is trained to monitor and watch dogs to ensure their health and safetyStaff confirmed that Josie did not display any medical concerns, including vomiting, during her entire time in their care Adopter Compliant #2: Worms The Adopter claims that OPH knowingly adopted out a dog with hookwormsAs explained ad nauseam to the Adopter, all dogs are assumed to require multiple dewormers as they are assumed to have worms at some point during their tenure in the shelter or in OPH’s careDewormer is given by the shelter and OPHWe explain – at length – to adopters that multiple dewormers may be required post-adoption Not only was Josie treated multiple times for worms in the shelter and in OPH’s care, the dog received a fecal exam at the Adopter’s vet and she tested negative for these worms As confirmed by Josie’s vet, OPH did not adopt out a dog with worms Adopter Compliant #3: Adopters Had to Schedule an Emergency Vet Visit Our Adoption Contract requires the following: “The dog shall be seen by a licensed veterinarian within days of adoption, and at least once per year thereafter.” The Adopters took the dog home on March 19thThe vet appointment should have been scheduled and the Adopters would have avoided an emergency feeIt’s clear from the vet notes that the adopters called for the first time on the 25th of MarchHad they followed the contract terms, Josie’s scheduled vet visit would have allowed them to avoid the emergency fee The remaining costs associated with a fecal float and dewormer are “expected costs” that we remind and encourage adopters to anticipateSee previous explanation above Adopter’s Complaint – OPH Knowingly Sold them a sick dog: It’s obvious from reviewing all documents provided during this transaction, that OPH did not sell the Adopter’s a sick dogRather, OPH gave them a healthy dog – as confirmed by their vet’s testing OPH would like to point out, what the Adopter’s vet pointed out in the vet record notesThis Adopter is a new dog owner and was clearly overwhelmedIn fact, the vet office made notes to this effect in the vet records, the Adopter was “overwhelmed with all of it”See excerpt below - OPH does our best to educate adopters on transition from rescue to homeHere, the Adopters had difficulties in this transitionThey did not take the time to review any of the information provided in advanceOPH includes information that covers the common issue with worms and explains how adopters can help dogs transition to eating new foodsShort of going home with this Adopter and reading each piece of paper to them, there is nothing more OPH could have done to help this Adopter internalize the information provided and understand that caring for a dog requires work Summary of Communication OPH provided in-depth information to the AdoptersOPH provided volunteer contacts to talk with the Adopter regarding the wormsFinally, despite our attempts to explain this a-typical issue that is common in shelter dogs, we encouraged the Adopter to return the dog to OPHOn multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refund Attempt at Resolution We never want one of our adopters to be unable with an animal they have adoptedAs a result, we always offer the option to return the dogIn addition, in situations where there is an alleged medical issue – which are extremely rare and usually an exaggeration of a non-issue – the Board of Directors will allow a full refund that is outside of – and beyond – the terms agreed to by Adopters in our Adoption ContractOn multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refundThese conversations preceded her second vet visit expense as well as the alleged surgery The Adopter informed OPH that the alleged surgery would cost $2,Based on this cost assessment, we provided information on other clinics and hospitals that work with OPH and provide outstanding care at substantially less inflated costsOur offer to assist in the fundraising for Josie’s alleged surgery is provided in detail below in Attachment E and in summary herein – If you seek financial assistance, we would ask you to partner with us to raise the funds During a recent Board meeting, we agreed that - when fundraising for dogs who have already been adopted - we would ask the adopters to take part in those efforts If they are unable - then our support will be limited - where the issue is not something OPH missed/overlooked To that end, for adopters who dogs have developed heart issues, required massive surgery, etc- we ask them to prepare the fundraising pleas, come to events and spend the day soliciting donations with us - like a volunteer, and helping in the process Finally, we will not reimburse for expensive surgery or treatment that could be obtained by another vet that we recommend As a result, we will use the base pricing from Helping Hands (or Blue Ridge - if they can match it) as the base for our supported-fundraising efforts We believe that – upon examination of the vet notes from Josie’s alleged surgery – we will be able to confirm that the surgery found nothingThe estimated cost was over $The alleged bill is for $As confirmed with one of our primary vets today, that cost would be for opening the dog, finding nothing, and not having to engage in any surgical procedures, and closing the dog Adopter’s Refusal at Remediation The Adopters refused to accept our offer for assistancePlease see Attachment F Conclusion We understand this Adopter is a new dog owner and that inviting a new family member into your home can be stressfulAs a result, we offer information and adviceOPH has invited over 5,dogs into our “home” in the last six yearsWe have experience in transitions and work closely with several vets to care for our dogsWe do not – in no uncertain terms – knowingly adopt out sick dogs Rather, we provide a robust amount of information to Adopters – especially meant for adopting homes like these Adopters who are first time dog ownersSpecifically, in multiple phases of the Adoption Process we explicitly reference the common issue of worms in dogsAs detailed above and provided in the support that accompanies this letter – you will note that we (a) explain the normalcy of worms in dogs that come from shelters and (b) inform adopters that we cannot – in no uncertain terms – pay for their vet visits associated with such issues Despite these explicit disclaimers and despite the information that was provided, said Adopter failed to review and understand the words contained in the documentationFurther, after receiving such information, they agreed and signed our Adoption Contract which – once again – explained that we cannot reimburse for vet bills associated with these issuesIn short, the Adopter received detailed information that goes beyond what most similarly situated organizations provided to adopters Despite the extreme amount of information provided and the refusal of the Adopter to take any responsibility for the terms agreed to in the Adoption Contract they signed, we still attempted to helpWe offered suggestions for the treatment of their dog and offered to assist in the fundraising of the alleged surgeryOur Medical Coordinator spoke to them at length via the phoneThe adopter refused to listen to any information provided and failed to attempt at reaching a resolution with OPH We feel we have been transparent and provided all information regarding this normal, common issue with shelter dogsWe go above and beyond to educate all potential adoptersPlease – compare our adoption packet and information to other requestsI assure you – we provide one of the most comprehensive summary of health and transitional information to adoptersThis adopter is a first time dog owner and inexperiencedWe work hard to educate all adopters – especially first time dog owners – on wormsUnfortunately, not every adopter will review and attempt to understand the information provided prior to taking home a dog To continue the discussion of resolution, we must be provided with medical records from the surgery as we believe the surgery confirmed there were no issues that OPH should or could have foreseenThe Adopter must provide us with the detailed medical records for the alleged surgeryWe will ask one of our advising vets to review the information in detailIf there is a correlation to anything OPH could have noticed while the dog was in our care or that was missed as part from our standard operating procedure, we offer her the ability to fundraise using the OPH platformBased on the monetary amount of the alleged surgery, we believe the surgery found nothingTo be fair to the Adopters, we wish to review the records to make a full, accurate determinationWe are happy to provide the Revdex.com with the results of that analysis Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected], via snail mail at OPH, PO Box 90813, Alexandria, VA or we can set up a conference call at a scheduled time convenient for you Kind regards, Jen OPH Board of Director

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because: I did not misrepresent anything during my claim as Josie did vomit within the first hour in our care as I told Barbara during our check in call the following weekDuring Josie's surgery, the doctor discovered a hard tissue that had formed after her spay surgery and was putting pressure on her intestinesThis was causing her not to be able to digest food properly and the doctor informed us that this was most likely an issue shortly after her original surgeryTherefore, we still believe that this was an issue that OPH missedAt this time, we have no interest in working alongside OPH to raise funds as I couldn't work with this organization in good conscienceI will continue to do my best to inform local families of the issues that we had with this organization to prevent this situation from happening to others in the future Regards, [redacted]

Dear Ms. [redacted]:   In response to the compliant received on April 10, 2016, we provide the following information and summary. While this response is long, we strive to provide a detailed summary to assist in your evaluation that requires a separation from fact, information and heated emotions...

that have driven the complaint. Following review of this letter, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with the Revdex.com towards resolving this issue.   Executive Summary   Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) is a nonprofit 501c3 dog rescue organization. We have been in existence since 2010 and have grown throughout the DC metro region. We have provided care and loving homes to over 5,000 dogs since our inception – and this is our first such complaint in this time frame and throughout this number of adoptions to the Revdex.com.   The dog in question, Josie, came from a rural shelter in South Carolina. The adopter in question received the standard adoption information throughout the process. Josie received the customary care that is provided to all dogs in our care – and far exceeds the health regimen followed by most organizations in the DC metro area – including SPCA and other related organizations.   We attempted to reach a resolution with said adopter and were met with resistance. As a result, and based on the explanation that follows, we would be willing to entertain the same form of resolution based on two conditions – as explained in detail below.   Overview of Process Before the dog arrives – OPH rescues dogs from rural shelters, prepares the dogs for adoption, and offers adoption services to potential adopters in the DC metro area. The rescue process begins when we commit to a dog from a shelter and coordinate logistics and vetting.  We communicate with the shelter, volunteers on the ground, transport companies, vet offices, and with our OPH volunteers.  Our standard operating procedures outline the vaccinations, spay/neuter, tests, temperament information gathering, and a host of issues that we require our shelter partners to complete prior to a dog’s arrival.  This is a big undertaking for each dog, but the goal is to ensure information is conveyed to our medical team, among other necessary functional areas within OPH.  In anticipation of dogs arriving, we coordinate follow up vaccines, vet appointments as needed, and prepare dog supplies to be provided to fosters and boarding partners (folders, contracts, probiotics and vitamins, dewormer, and vaccines).    Adoption Process –   Once an applicant becomes approved for adoption, we move forward in trying to find a good match for the applicant. We recommend dogs who are in our care as well as inform the applicant how to visit our website to select a dog for adoption. Once a dog is selected by the applicant, we send a detailed Meet & Greet email. The purpose of the Meet & Greet email is to (a) educate the adopters on the process forward, (b) provide important information about dogs and their care, (c) provide an advanced copy of the Adoption Contract for their review, (d) to provide details on the actual meeting of the dog, and – most important to this matter – (e) provide information on the normal state of health and well-being for adopted dogs who come from rural shelters. As you will see in Attachment A, we provide an explicit, detailed summary on the normalcy of dogs having worms and the importance of talking with their vet and – in most instances – continuing the deworming process that is started by the shelter and OPH. The Adopters for Josie received this information in advance of meeting Josie. They were given ample time to review such information and ask questions. They did not pose any such questions to their adoption coordinator.   I have highlighted the relevant section in Attachment A and include the disclaimer in regards to worms herein.   Some medical issues are dormant or not observed until after the adoption. Please remember that our dogs come from shelters in rural areas. As a result, they often require multiple dewormings to ensure the dog is worm free. OPH provides 1-2 (sometimes more) dewormers while the dog is in our care. Many dogs will require a third or fourth dewormer at a point after adoption. Worms, coccidia, and giardia are common and inexpensive conditions that can occur in any dog.  While all dogs are dewormed while in the rescue, it is always possible future deworming will be required due to these naturally occurring factors.   In addition, we include the documents attached to the standard Meet & Greet Email as Attachment B. Again, we provide an abundance of information so adopters can educate themselves in advance of taking home a dog. We highlight the normalcy of worms in dogs who come from rural shelters in the documents provided and, again, state that people should be aware of this issue and that we do not reimburse for vet bills associated with worms. I copy the relevant sections here for ease of review (emphasis included in original publication of materials provided to Adopter):   Pet’s Health   OPH and our shelter and rescue partners do not knowingly transport or adopt out a dog that is sick, injured or aggressive. There are several ailments, illnesses, and viruses that can take hours, days, and even weeks to display symptoms. A few of these ailments include parvo, kennel cough, intestinal parasites, worms and mange. Many times, the stress of transport, a new schedule and/or a new environment can cause the undetected health issues to begin to show symptoms. OPH is committed to providing the best care we can for all of the dogs we rescue. Basic vaccines and deworming are provided prior to transport (unless health or age prohibit such actions) and we provide additional deworming, vaccinations, parasite treatment and probiotics for every dog that arrives in our care. If a serious health issues arises, we ask that you contact us so we can provide guidance and contact the shelter or location where the dog came from. We encourage you to read the “Guide to New Arrivals” that we provide as well as read up on common ailments. We cannot give you prescription meds and we cannot reimburse for your vet bills.   We reiterate the normalcy of worms in the adoption packet. We even list the dewormer and fecal as an “expected cost” that adopters should be ready for during their post-adoption vet visit. Please see the Blue Packet in Attachment B, and copied herein for ease of reference: Expected Costs: With any adopted dog, you need to be prepared to incur the following costs immediately following adoption: Vet Visit – Office fees range from $35 - $75 Heartworm preventative for 1 year Flea preventative for 1 year Most vets will also recommend a fecal examination to ensure there are no residual worms Many states and counties require you to register your dog and will charge a fee for such registration Additional vaccinations outside the scope of what OPH provides - Includes Lyme and Lepto Activate your microchip – This is well worth it in case something spokes your new companion Dewormer – we do deworm your dog, but many dogs require multiple cycles of dewormer   Following the receipt of the Meet & Greet Email, we arranged to have a volunteer conduct the Meet & Greet with Josie. During the meet & greet, Adopters are given every opportunity to ask questions regarding Josie and her history. Any questions that a volunteer cannot answer at that time, we encourage adopters to reach out to the Adoption team for answers.   Post Adoption Medical Inquiries/Discussions re Josie   In addition to the volunteers who are the lifeblood of our organization, we actually have two part-time employees who are dedicated to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our dogs. Only a handful of rescues in the DC Metro area employ personnel to help oversee the vetting and care of the dogs in their organization. These coordinators work diligently to ensure all vaccinations are completed, preventatives administered, and surgeries/vet visits are scheduled as needed. We also work to ensure all medical records are available – at a moment’s notice – to adopters before, after and during the adoption process. Our Medical Coordinator was available to the Adopters and spoke with them at length regarding the worm situation. On multiple occasions, we requested information from the vet visit as we wanted to allow our Vet liaisons to review such information. It took several days for us to obtain said documentation. The Adopters vet did a disservice to the Adopters in that they lead them to believe that the surgery was necessitated by a worm infestation. As explained below, Josie tested negative for worms at the Adopter’s vet office. We will be reporting this issue to the Maryland Board of Veterinarian Examiners.   Medical Summary   As the Revdex.com may not be aware of standard procedures regarding dogs in shelters and rescues, we wanted to provide some additional information to assist with your review.   Worms – Overview and OPH Protocol   It is not standard practice for shelters and rescue organizations to conduct fecal tests in dogs that are in their care. In fact, most shelters and rescues simply assume dogs have worms – due to the commonality of this parasite in the incoming dogs – and treat for worms as a common practice.   Josie’s Worm Treatment   In Josie’s case, she received a fecal examination at the shelter (which OPH pays for) that confirmed she had worms. As a result, she received her initial treatment for the worms at the shelter. Specifically, she was treated 2/29-3/3 with Panacur.  She was then given Sentinel, which treats the following parasites: adult roundworms, adult hookworms, whipworms, and prevents the development of flea eggs. She was given another dewormer - Pyrantel - on 3/4/16. See Attachment C.   She received a follow up dewormer once she arrived to OPH and the boarding facility that cared for her in coordination with OPH. She had an allwormer on 3/12/16 - Canine All Wormer offers total protection from all 11 intestinal worms (including roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm and hydatid tapeworm).  This continued treatment and prevention for any parasite identified above until Josie was due to for the hw/all wormer that was to be given April 4th.    As confirmed by the Adopter’s vet via a fecal examination, Josie no longer had worms after adoption.   Adopter’s Vet Visit Detailed Summary   Following the Adoption, the Adopter visited a vet. This was a vet she had just met and never used before as she is a new dog owner. Below are notes regarding the vet visits – that are included at Attachment D.   Comparative Analysis of Adopter’s Compliant   As you will see from the summary of the vet notes from the Adopter’s vet, the Adopter’s written compliant to the Revdex.com is a misrepresentation of the facts. The Adopter’s claims to you – the Revdex.com – do not match information she provided to the vet she entrusted to care for Josie. Please review the information herein to evaluate where the facts vs. misrepresentations are in regards to the health of Josie. To assist, we provide the following comparative analysis.   Adopter Compliant #1: Vomiting   The Adopter claims that Josie threw up leaving the boarding facility post-adoption. She dismissed the vomiting as nerves. However, according to her own vet records, the Adopter informed the vet that Josie threw up for the first time on March 25. See Attachment D. This was six days post-adoption.   Despite this discrepancy in the Adopter’s story, OPH contacted the doggie daycare where Josie lived while in OPH’s care. Josie lived at a well-respected doggie daycare. The dogs are under constant surveillance in the open areas as it is a cageless boarding facility. The staff is trained to monitor and watch dogs to ensure their health and safety. Staff confirmed that Josie did not display any medical concerns, including vomiting, during her entire time in their care.   Adopter Compliant #2: Worms   The Adopter claims that OPH knowingly adopted out a dog with hookworms. As explained ad nauseam to the Adopter, all dogs are assumed to require multiple dewormers as they are assumed to have worms at some point during their tenure in the shelter or in OPH’s care. Dewormer is given by the shelter and OPH. We explain – at length – to adopters that multiple dewormers may be required post-adoption.   Not only was Josie treated multiple times for worms in the shelter and in OPH’s care, the dog received a fecal exam at the Adopter’s vet and she tested negative for these worms.   As confirmed by Josie’s vet, OPH did not adopt out a dog with worms.   Adopter Compliant #3: Adopters Had to Schedule an Emergency Vet Visit   Our Adoption Contract requires the following: “The dog shall be seen by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of adoption, and at least once per year thereafter.” The Adopters took the dog home on March 19th. The vet appointment should have been scheduled and the Adopters would have avoided an emergency fee. It’s clear from the vet notes that the adopters called for the first time on the 25th of March. Had they followed the contract terms, Josie’s scheduled vet visit would have allowed them to avoid the emergency fee.   The remaining costs associated with a fecal float and dewormer are “expected costs” that we remind and encourage adopters to anticipate. See previous explanation above.   Adopter’s Complaint – OPH Knowingly Sold them a sick dog:   It’s obvious from reviewing all documents provided during this transaction, that OPH did not sell the Adopter’s a sick dog. Rather, OPH gave them a healthy dog – as confirmed by their vet’s testing.   OPH would like to point out, what the Adopter’s vet pointed out in the vet record notes. This Adopter is a new dog owner and was clearly overwhelmed. In fact, the vet office made notes to this effect in the vet records, the Adopter was “overwhelmed with all of it”. See excerpt below -       OPH does our best to educate adopters on transition from rescue to home. Here, the Adopters had difficulties in this transition. They did not take the time to review any of the information provided in advance. OPH includes information that covers the common issue with worms and explains how adopters can help dogs transition to eating new foods. Short of going home with this Adopter and reading each piece of paper to them, there is nothing more OPH could have done to help this Adopter internalize the information provided and understand that caring for a dog requires work.   Summary of Communication   OPH provided in-depth information to the Adopters. OPH provided volunteer contacts to talk with the Adopter regarding the worms. Finally, despite our attempts to explain this a-typical issue that is common in shelter dogs, we encouraged the Adopter to return the dog to OPH. On multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refund.   Attempt at Resolution   We never want one of our adopters to be unable with an animal they have adopted. As a result, we always offer the option to return the dog. In addition, in situations where there is an alleged medical issue – which are extremely rare and usually an exaggeration of a non-issue – the Board of Directors will allow a full refund that is outside of – and beyond – the terms agreed to by Adopters in our Adoption Contract. On multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refund. These conversations preceded her second vet visit expense as well as the alleged surgery.   The Adopter informed OPH that the alleged surgery would cost $2,000. Based on this cost assessment, we provided information on other clinics and hospitals that work with OPH and provide outstanding care at substantially less inflated costs. Our offer to assist in the fundraising for Josie’s alleged surgery is provided in detail below in Attachment E and in summary herein –   If you seek financial assistance, we would ask you to partner with us to raise the funds. …  During a recent Board meeting, we agreed that - when fundraising for dogs who have already been adopted - we would ask the adopters to take part in those efforts.  If they are unable - then our support will be limited - where the issue is not something OPH missed/overlooked.  To that end, for adopters who dogs have developed heart issues, required massive surgery, etc. - we ask them to prepare the fundraising pleas, come to events and spend the day soliciting donations with us - like a volunteer, and helping in the process.  Finally, we will not reimburse for expensive surgery or treatment that could be obtained by another vet that we recommend.  As a result, we will use the base pricing from Helping Hands (or Blue Ridge - if they can match it) as the base for our supported-fundraising efforts.   We believe that – upon examination of the vet notes from Josie’s alleged surgery – we will be able to confirm that the surgery found nothing. The estimated cost was over $2000. The alleged bill is for $870. As confirmed with one of our primary vets today, that cost would be for opening the dog, finding nothing, and not having to engage in any surgical procedures, and closing the dog.   Adopter’s Refusal at Remediation   The Adopters refused to accept our offer for assistance. Please see Attachment F.   Conclusion   We understand this Adopter is a new dog owner and that inviting a new family member into your home can be stressful. As a result, we offer information and advice. OPH has invited over 5,000 dogs into our “home” in the last six years. We have experience in transitions and work closely with several vets to care for our dogs. We do not – in no uncertain terms – knowingly adopt out sick dogs.   Rather, we provide a robust amount of information to Adopters – especially meant for adopting homes like these Adopters who are first time dog owners. Specifically, in multiple phases of the Adoption Process we explicitly reference the common issue of worms in dogs. As detailed above and provided in the support that accompanies this letter – you will note that we (a) explain the normalcy of worms in dogs that come from shelters and (b) inform adopters that we cannot – in no uncertain terms – pay for their vet visits associated with such issues.   Despite these explicit disclaimers and despite the information that was provided, said Adopter failed to review and understand the words contained in the documentation. Further, after receiving such information, they agreed and signed our Adoption Contract which – once again – explained that we cannot reimburse for vet bills associated with these issues. In short, the Adopter received detailed information that goes beyond what most similarly situated organizations provided to adopters.   Despite the extreme amount of information provided and the refusal of the Adopter to take any responsibility for the terms agreed to in the Adoption Contract they signed, we still attempted to help. We offered suggestions for the treatment of their dog and offered to assist in the fundraising of the alleged surgery. Our Medical Coordinator spoke to them at length via the phone. The adopter refused to listen to any information provided and failed to attempt at reaching a resolution with OPH.   We feel we have been transparent and provided all information regarding this normal, common issue with shelter dogs. We go above and beyond to educate all potential adopters. Please – compare our adoption packet and information to other requests. I assure you – we provide one of the most comprehensive summary of health and transitional information to adopters. This adopter is a first time dog owner and inexperienced. We work hard to educate all adopters – especially first time dog owners – on worms. Unfortunately, not every adopter will review and attempt to understand the information provided prior to taking home a dog.   To continue the discussion of resolution, we must be provided with medical records from the surgery as we believe the surgery confirmed there were no issues that OPH should or could have foreseen. The Adopter must provide us with the detailed medical records for the alleged surgery. We will ask one of our advising vets to review the information in detail. If there is a correlation to anything OPH could have noticed while the dog was in our care or that was missed as part from our standard operating procedure, we offer her the ability to fundraise using the OPH platform. Based on the monetary amount of the alleged surgery, we believe the surgery found nothing. To be fair to the Adopters, we wish to review the records to make a full, accurate determination. We are happy to provide the Revdex.com with the results of that analysis.   Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected], via snail mail at OPH, PO Box 90813, Alexandria, VA or we can set up a conference call at a scheduled time convenient for you.   Kind regards, Jen OPH Board of Director

Dear Ms. [redacted]:   In response to the compliant received on April 10, 2016, we provide the following information and summary. While this response is long, we strive to provide a detailed...

summary to assist in your evaluation that requires a separation from fact, information and heated emotions that have driven the complaint. Following review of this letter, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working with the Revdex.com towards resolving this issue.  
Executive Summary
  Operation Paws for Homes (OPH) is a nonprofit 501c3 dog rescue organization. We have been in existence since 2010 and have grown throughout the DC metro region. We have provided care and loving homes to over 5,000 dogs since our inception – and this is our first such complaint in this time frame and throughout this number of adoptions to the Revdex.com.   The dog in question, Josie, came from a rural shelter in South Carolina. The adopter in question received the standard adoption information throughout the process. Josie received the customary care that is provided to all dogs in our care – and far exceeds the health regimen followed by most organizations in the DC metro area – including SPCA and other related organizations.   We attempted to reach a resolution with said adopter and were met with resistance. As a result, and based on the explanation that follows, we would be willing to entertain the same form of resolution based on two conditions – as explained in detail below.  
Overview of Process
Before the dog arrives –
OPH rescues dogs from rural shelters, prepares the dogs for adoption, and offers adoption services to potential adopters in the DC metro area. The rescue process begins when we commit to a dog from a shelter and coordinate logistics and vetting.  We communicate with the shelter, volunteers on the ground, transport companies, vet offices, and with our OPH volunteers.  Our standard operating procedures outline the vaccinations, spay/neuter, tests, temperament information gathering, and a host of issues that we require our shelter partners to complete prior to a dog’s arrival.  This is a big undertaking for each dog, but the goal is to ensure information is conveyed to our medical team, among other necessary functional areas within OPH.  In anticipation of dogs arriving, we coordinate follow up vaccines, vet appointments as needed, and prepare dog supplies to be provided to fosters and boarding partners (folders, contracts, probiotics and vitamins, dewormer, and vaccines).   
Adoption Process –
  Once an applicant becomes approved for adoption, we move forward in trying to find a good match for the applicant. We recommend dogs who are in our care as well as inform the applicant how to visit our website to select a dog for adoption. Once a dog is selected by the applicant, we send a detailed Meet & Greet email. The purpose of the Meet & Greet email is to (a) educate the adopters on the process forward, (b) provide important information about dogs and their care, (c) provide an advanced copy of the Adoption Contract for their review, (d) to provide details on the actual meeting of the dog, and – most important to this matter – (e) provide information on the normal state of health and well-being for adopted dogs who come from rural shelters. As you will see in Attachment A, we provide an explicit, detailed summary on the normalcy of dogs having worms and the importance of talking with their vet and – in most instances – continuing the deworming process that is started by the shelter and OPH. The Adopters for Josie received this information in advance of meeting Josie. They were given ample time to review such information and ask questions. They did not pose any such questions to their adoption coordinator.   I have highlighted the relevant section in Attachment A and include the disclaimer in regards to worms herein.   Some medical issues are dormant or not observed until after the adoption. Please remember that our dogs come from shelters in rural areas. As a result, they often require multiple dewormings to ensure the dog is worm free. OPH provides 1-2 (sometimes more) dewormers while the dog is in our care. Many dogs will require a third or fourth dewormer at a point after adoption. Worms, coccidia, and giardia are common and inexpensive conditions that can occur in any dog.  While all dogs are dewormed while in the rescue, it is always possible future deworming will be required due to these naturally occurring factors.   In addition, we include the documents attached to the standard Meet & Greet Email as Attachment B. Again, we provide an abundance of information so adopters can educate themselves in advance of taking home a dog. We highlight the normalcy of worms in dogs who come from rural shelters in the documents provided and, again, state that people should be aware of this issue and that we do not reimburse for vet bills associated with worms. I copy the relevant sections here for ease of review (emphasis included in original publication of materials provided to Adopter):   Pet’s Health   OPH and our shelter and rescue partners do not knowingly transport or adopt out a dog that is sick, injured or aggressive. There are several ailments, illnesses, and viruses that can take hours, days, and even weeks to display symptoms. A few of these ailments include parvo, kennel cough, intestinal parasites, worms and mange. Many times, the stress of transport, a new schedule and/or a new environment can cause the undetected health issues to begin to show symptoms. OPH is committed to providing the best care we can for all of the dogs we rescue. Basic vaccines and deworming are provided prior to transport (unless health or age prohibit such actions) and we provide additional deworming, vaccinations, parasite treatment and probiotics for every dog that arrives in our care. If a serious health issues arises, we ask that you contact us so we can provide guidance and contact the shelter or location where the dog came from. We encourage you to read the “Guide to New Arrivals” that we provide as well as read up on common ailments. We cannot give you prescription meds and we cannot reimburse for your vet bills.   We reiterate the normalcy of worms in the adoption packet. We even list the dewormer and fecal as an “expected cost” that adopters should be ready for during their post-adoption vet visit. Please see the Blue Packet in Attachment B, and copied herein for ease of reference: Expected Costs: With any adopted dog, you need to be prepared to incur the following costs immediately following adoption:
Vet Visit – Office fees range from $35 - $75
Heartworm preventative for 1 year
Flea preventative for 1 year
Most vets will also recommend a fecal examination to ensure there are no residual worms
Many states and counties require you to register your dog and will charge a fee for such registration
Additional vaccinations outside the scope of what OPH provides - Includes Lyme and Lepto
Activate your microchip – This is well worth it in case something spokes your new companion
Dewormer – we do deworm your dog, but many dogs require multiple cycles of dewormer
  Following the receipt of the Meet & Greet Email, we arranged to have a volunteer conduct the Meet & Greet with Josie. During the meet & greet, Adopters are given every opportunity to ask questions regarding Josie and her history. Any questions that a volunteer cannot answer at that time, we encourage adopters to reach out to the Adoption team for answers.  
Post Adoption Medical Inquiries/Discussions re Josie
  In addition to the volunteers who are the lifeblood of our organization, we actually have two part-time employees who are dedicated to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our dogs. Only a handful of rescues in the DC Metro area employ personnel to help oversee the vetting and care of the dogs in their organization. These coordinators work diligently to ensure all vaccinations are completed, preventatives administered, and surgeries/vet visits are scheduled as needed. We also work to ensure all medical records are available – at a moment’s notice – to adopters before, after and during the adoption process. Our Medical Coordinator was available to the Adopters and spoke with them at length regarding the worm situation. On multiple occasions, we requested information from the vet visit as we wanted to allow our Vet liaisons to review such information. It took several days for us to obtain said documentation. The Adopters vet did a disservice to the Adopters in that they lead them to believe that the surgery was necessitated by a worm infestation. As explained below, Josie tested negative for worms at the Adopter’s vet office. We will be reporting this issue to the Maryland Board of Veterinarian Examiners.  
Medical Summary
  As the Revdex.com may not be aware of standard procedures regarding dogs in shelters and rescues, we wanted to provide some additional information to assist with your review.  
Worms – Overview and OPH Protocol
  It is not standard practice for shelters and rescue organizations to conduct fecal tests in dogs that are in their care. In fact, most shelters and rescues simply assume dogs have worms – due to the commonality of this parasite in the incoming dogs – and treat for worms as a common practice.  
Josie’s Worm Treatment
  In Josie’s case, she received a fecal examination at the shelter (which OPH pays for) that confirmed she had worms. As a result, she received her initial treatment for the worms at the shelter. Specifically, she was treated 2/29-3/3 with Panacur.  She was then given Sentinel, which treats the following parasites: adult roundworms, adult hookworms, whipworms, and prevents the development of flea eggs. She was given another dewormer - Pyrantel - on 3/4/16. See Attachment C.   She received a follow up dewormer once she arrived to OPH and the boarding facility that cared for her in coordination with OPH. She had an allwormer on 3/12/16 - Canine All Wormer offers total protection from all 11 intestinal worms (including roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm and hydatid tapeworm).  This continued treatment and prevention for any parasite identified above until Josie was due to for the hw/all wormer that was to be given April 4th.    As confirmed by the Adopter’s vet via a fecal examination, Josie no longer had worms after adoption.  
Adopter’s Vet Visit Detailed Summary
  Following the Adoption, the Adopter visited a vet. This was a vet she had just met and never used before as she is a new dog owner. Below are notes regarding the vet visits – that are included at Attachment D.  
Comparative Analysis of Adopter’s Compliant
  As you will see from the summary of the vet notes from the Adopter’s vet, the Adopter’s written compliant to the Revdex.com is a misrepresentation of the facts. The Adopter’s claims to you – the Revdex.com – do not match information she provided to the vet she entrusted to care for Josie. Please review the information herein to evaluate where the facts vs. misrepresentations are in regards to the health of Josie. To assist, we provide the following comparative analysis.  
Adopter Compliant #1: Vomiting
  The Adopter claims that Josie threw up leaving the boarding facility post-adoption. She dismissed the vomiting as nerves. However, according to her own vet records, the Adopter informed the vet that Josie threw up for the first time on March 25. See Attachment D. This was six days post-adoption.   Despite this discrepancy in the Adopter’s story, OPH contacted the doggie daycare where Josie lived while in OPH’s care. Josie lived at a well-respected doggie daycare. The dogs are under constant surveillance in the open areas as it is a cageless boarding facility. The staff is trained to monitor and watch dogs to ensure their health and safety. Staff confirmed that Josie did not display any medical concerns, including vomiting, during her entire time in their care.  
Adopter Compliant #2: Worms
  The Adopter claims that OPH knowingly adopted out a dog with hookworms. As explained ad nauseam to the Adopter, all dogs are assumed to require multiple dewormers as they are assumed to have worms at some point during their tenure in the shelter or in OPH’s care. Dewormer is given by the shelter and OPH. We explain – at length – to adopters that multiple dewormers may be required post-adoption.   Not only was Josie treated multiple times for worms in the shelter and in OPH’s care, the dog received a fecal exam at the Adopter’s vet and she tested negative for these worms.   As confirmed by Josie’s vet, OPH did not adopt out a dog with worms.  
Adopter Compliant #3: Adopters Had to Schedule an Emergency Vet Visit
  Our Adoption Contract requires the following: “The dog shall be seen by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of adoption, and at least once per year thereafter.” The Adopters took the dog home on March 19th. The vet appointment should have been scheduled and the Adopters would have avoided an emergency fee. It’s clear from the vet notes that the adopters called for the first time on the 25th of March. Had they followed the contract terms, Josie’s scheduled vet visit would have allowed them to avoid the emergency fee.   The remaining costs associated with a fecal float and dewormer are “expected costs” that we remind and encourage adopters to anticipate. See previous explanation above.  
Adopter’s Complaint – OPH Knowingly Sold them a sick dog:
  It’s obvious from reviewing all documents provided during this transaction, that OPH did not sell the Adopter’s a sick dog. Rather, OPH gave them a healthy dog – as confirmed by their vet’s testing.   OPH would like to point out, what the Adopter’s vet pointed out in the vet record notes. This Adopter is a new dog owner and was clearly overwhelmed. In fact, the vet office made notes to this effect in the vet records, the Adopter was “overwhelmed with all of it”. See excerpt below -       OPH does our best to educate adopters on transition from rescue to home. Here, the Adopters had difficulties in this transition. They did not take the time to review any of the information provided in advance. OPH includes information that covers the common issue with worms and explains how adopters can help dogs transition to eating new foods. Short of going home with this Adopter and reading each piece of paper to them, there is nothing more OPH could have done to help this Adopter internalize the information provided and understand that caring for a dog requires work.  
Summary of Communication
  OPH provided in-depth information to the Adopters. OPH provided volunteer contacts to talk with the Adopter regarding the worms. Finally, despite our attempts to explain this a-typical issue that is common in shelter dogs, we encouraged the Adopter to return the dog to OPH. On multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refund.  
Attempt at Resolution
  We never want one of our adopters to be unable with an animal they have adopted. As a result, we always offer the option to return the dog. In addition, in situations where there is an alleged medical issue – which are extremely rare and usually an exaggeration of a non-issue – the Board of Directors will allow a full refund that is outside of – and beyond – the terms agreed to by Adopters in our Adoption Contract. On multiple occasions, we offered the adopter to return Josie for a full refund. These conversations preceded her second vet visit expense as well as the alleged surgery.   The Adopter informed OPH that the alleged surgery would cost $2,000. Based on this cost assessment, we provided information on other clinics and hospitals that work with OPH and provide outstanding care at substantially less inflated costs. Our offer to assist in the fundraising for Josie’s alleged surgery is provided in detail below in Attachment E and in summary herein –   If you seek financial assistance, we would ask you to partner with us to raise the funds. …  During a recent Board meeting, we agreed that - when fundraising for dogs who have already been adopted - we would ask the adopters to take part in those efforts.  If they are unable - then our support will be limited - where the issue is not something OPH missed/overlooked.  To that end, for adopters who dogs have developed heart issues, required massive surgery, etc. - we ask them to prepare the fundraising pleas, come to events and spend the day soliciting donations with us - like a volunteer, and helping in the process.  Finally, we will not reimburse for expensive surgery or treatment that could be obtained by another vet that we recommend.  As a result, we will use the base pricing from Helping Hands (or Blue Ridge - if they can match it) as the base for our supported-fundraising efforts.   We believe that – upon examination of the vet notes from Josie’s alleged surgery – we will be able to confirm that the surgery found nothing. The estimated cost was over $2000. The alleged bill is for $870. As confirmed with one of our primary vets today, that cost would be for opening the dog, finding nothing, and not having to engage in any surgical procedures, and closing the dog.  
Adopter’s Refusal at Remediation
  The Adopters refused to accept our offer for assistance. Please see Attachment F.  
Conclusion
  We understand this Adopter is a new dog owner and that inviting a new family member into your home can be stressful. As a result, we offer information and advice. OPH has invited over 5,000 dogs into our “home” in the last six years. We have experience in transitions and work closely with several vets to care for our dogs. We do not – in no uncertain terms – knowingly adopt out sick dogs.   Rather, we provide a robust amount of information to Adopters – especially meant for adopting homes like these Adopters who are first time dog owners. Specifically, in multiple phases of the Adoption Process we explicitly reference the common issue of worms in dogs. As detailed above and provided in the support that accompanies this letter – you will note that we (a) explain the normalcy of worms in dogs that come from shelters and (b) inform adopters that we cannot – in no uncertain terms – pay for their vet visits associated with such issues.   Despite these explicit disclaimers and despite the information that was provided, said Adopter failed to review and understand the words contained in the documentation. Further, after receiving such information, they agreed and signed our Adoption Contract which – once again – explained that we cannot reimburse for vet bills associated with these issues. In short, the Adopter received detailed information that goes beyond what most similarly situated organizations provided to adopters.   Despite the extreme amount of information provided and the refusal of the Adopter to take any responsibility for the terms agreed to in the Adoption Contract they signed, we still attempted to help. We offered suggestions for the treatment of their dog and offered to assist in the fundraising of the alleged surgery. Our Medical Coordinator spoke to them at length via the phone. The adopter refused to listen to any information provided and failed to attempt at reaching a resolution with OPH.   We feel we have been transparent and provided all information regarding this normal, common issue with shelter dogs. We go above and beyond to educate all potential adopters. Please – compare our adoption packet and information to other requests. I assure you – we provide one of the most comprehensive summary of health and transitional information to adopters. This adopter is a first time dog owner and inexperienced. We work hard to educate all adopters – especially first time dog owners – on worms. Unfortunately, not every adopter will review and attempt to understand the information provided prior to taking home a dog.   To continue the discussion of resolution, we must be provided with medical records from the surgery as we believe the surgery confirmed there were no issues that OPH should or could have foreseen. The Adopter must provide us with the detailed medical records for the alleged surgery. We will ask one of our advising vets to review the information in detail. If there is a correlation to anything OPH could have noticed while the dog was in our care or that was missed as part from our standard operating procedure, we offer her the ability to fundraise using the OPH platform. Based on the monetary amount of the alleged surgery, we believe the surgery found nothing. To be fair to the Adopters, we wish to review the records to make a full, accurate determination. We are happy to provide the Revdex.com with the results of that analysis.   Please do not hesitate to contact us via email at [email protected], via snail mail at OPH, PO Box 90813, Alexandria, VA or we can set up a conference call at a scheduled time convenient for you.   Kind regards, Jen OPH Board of Director

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
 Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because: I did not misrepresent anything during my claim as Josie did vomit within the first hour in our care as I told Barbara during our check in call the following week. During Josie's surgery, the doctor discovered a hard tissue that had formed after her spay surgery and was putting pressure on her intestines. This was causing her not to be able to digest food properly and the doctor informed us that this was most likely an issue shortly after her original surgery. Therefore, we still believe that this was an issue that OPH missed. At this time, we have no interest in working alongside OPH to raise funds as I couldn't work with this organization in good conscience. I will continue to do my best to inform local families of the issues that we had with this organization to prevent this situation from happening to others in the future. 
Regards,
[redacted]