Advertisement. Advertise with us

RDRS Lawsuit Dismissed

CHERRY VALLEY—A Class Action Federal RICO and Charity Fraud lawsuit filed by Arlene Dean of Ulster County, New York on Thursday, November 2, 2023 against Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers and others has been voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. The complaint alleged that the respondents organized to defraud a large number of animal-welfare donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars with a sham dog rescue and that they used the donations for the personal benefit of the board and their friends, including amassing a million-dollar real estate portfolio for founder Elizabeth Keller.

At the time the suit was filed, Keller said, “We’ve never been sued before, but the truth will come out.”

Rescue Dogs, based in Cherry Valley, is a partner of the New York City Animal Care and Control shelter that receives stray dogs in Cherry Valley to train them as companions for disabled war veterans. It is a charity registered with the New York State Department of Corporations and uses a website and Facebook pages to solicit donations.

An investigation into living conditions of animals on Rescue Dogs properties conducted in August 2023 by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office found the dogs to be healthy but that living conditions needed improvement. A follow-up visit by law enforcement confirmed that conditions had been improved and the investigation was closed in September 2023. The civil case initiated by Dean was voluntarily dismissed on December 25.

Dogs currently available for adoption through Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers include Jules, a 2-year-old male basset hound/American bulldog mix, and Millie, a 2-year-old female American pit bull terrier.

Posted

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Related Articles

Lawsuit Filed Against Local Dog Rescue

Rescue Dogs is a partner of the New York City Animal Care and Control shelter that receives stray dogs in Cherry Valley to train them as companions for disabled war veterans. It is a charity registered with the New York State Department of Corporations and uses a website and Facebook pages to solicit donations.…

Guest Editorial: ‘Housing First’ Won’t Solve the Homeless Crisis

The leading policy approach to homelessness, and the one that attracts the lion’s share of government funding, is “Housing First.” Essentially, it prioritizes placing individuals into permanent housing as quickly as possible without addressing other issues like untreated mental illness or drug addiction.…

Lasting Impressions: Tamburrino’s ‘Twelfth Night’: Love in a Time of Confusion

The fabulous comic trio of Sir Toby Belch (Tom Russo), Sir Andrew Aguecheek (Mark Murphy), and Maria the Maid (Mary Davis Fralick) keep the temperature up and the audience laughing with hijinks, lewd jests, and bawdy gestures. They are a perfect group, using brilliant physical comedy (a hilarious Russo) and racy banter while poking holes at the aristocracy.…