1. If I was JRT I would have taken the money. People did want to give to JRT and they need that funding to keep up their good own ethical work. You can take dirty money and put it to clean use. The moral high ground can be a very expensive place to sit. Ive read the entire thread I know everyone doesnt agree. That's OK we don't have to on this point.
2. I used to pledge and donate a bit of money on the Hawksbury forum (which I came looking for tonight) but then after a while I started to wonder....where does the money really go, and when your new to all of this - its super emotional. The hard lesson is that you can't save every dog, like has been said earlier, some are better with their wings. If I want to give a donation now, I go to the actual rescue site and get my tax receipt.
3. The comments on this forum come mostly from perspective of rescue groups, my perspective is non-rescue. There are ways to help and things I needed to learn along the way about what rescue groups do. The wealth of knowledge within the rescue community about dogs is incredible. Education is whats helpful to the person who wants to help.
4. It's confusing (and heatbreaking) not to know what to look out for in a rescue group, so this sort of education to the potential donor or foster-er would be useful, maybe on something like Pet Rescues pages or via the RSPCA who have a wide reach. Something like Tips for the newbie - So we can know what questions you should be asking when dealing with rescue or thinking about fostering.
Glad I read this so I'm not a sucker.
Thanks for all the good work that's done with the doggies who can be helped.
My 2 cents.