03/03/2020
Justin Bartlett Animal Rescue and Justin Bartlett Animal Hospital: THE FACTS: Our original post created a large response from the public and from the president of the rescue himself. He stated the information posted was the creation of ex-board members. We therefore pulled the post to re-write it so that we can step by step show the public (and the president) that our facts are gathered from researching their own internet and Facebook posts, Google reviews and Yelp. No ex-board members were contacted on our behalf.
This organization started over eight years ago as a foster based rescue. They were able to over the years eventually adopt out an average of over 100 cats and dogs per month. If an animal needed special treatment they would fundraise and local veterinarians would help with the care. They opened a non profit Animal Hospital 4-5 years ago.They have an adoption center at Petco.
In 2018 the board split with all non-paid board members leaving and only the paid members remained.
Step 1: Facebook posts over the past two years from ex-employees show that allegedly
rescue animals did not receive the proper medical treatment and were kept in unsanitary conditions. We received pictures that allegedly showed these conditions but since we cannot substantiate their origin we cannot post them. The employees alleged that Parvo virus is a problem and supplies to treat the animals are sparse . They alleged they are understaffed to care for the number of animals kept on the rescue side and that management did not respond when they voiced their concerns.
THE OPINION: In our opinion, according to this rescue website, this organization did a great job rescuing and adopting out animals till about 2018 when gradually their adoption numbers dropped 75 percent. We question why the numbers dropped when now they have their own hospital so their medical expenses to vet and to treat the rescues is significantly lower then before the hospital opened? According to their previous 990s and website, their adoption numbers were still high when the hospital payroll was a quarter of what it is now. And according to their Facebook, their fundraisers increased in the past two years and they now have fundraisers for basics like vaccines? Also they created the Angel Fund which is for owners who cannot provide care for their animals.. but employees alleged they have not seen these funds appropriated On Facebook management responds to ex-employees with statements ‘why didn’t you bring these problems to our attention? but from the posts the employees alleged all the same problems have existed for the past two years and alleged management was never open to their opinion. Management also takes the position on Facebook that ‘ it’s hard to do this job so come in and sit down and give me ideas how to make it better’. It’s our opinion that instead of asking the help from the public,if management is having such a hard time managing the hospital and rescue there are plenty other organizations in South Florida that are doing the same job and succeeding. It would have been easy, in our opinion, to reach out to these facilities for guidance. If not that, then in our opinion management needs to be replaced with people who know how to run a hospital , rescue and control infectious diseases.
Step 2: The latest 990 shows 86 employees with a one million dollar a year payroll and all board members paid. Their website states they are 100 percent foster based for the rescue side which means the care of the rescue animals, except the medical, is a small expense compared to facilities that actually house their rescues. So this means their hospital has 86 employees which in our opinion is a high number when you compare it other nonprofit hospitals. And yet, on Facebook ex-employees and the president claim they are understaffed to appropriately care for the rescue dogs and the daily activities of the hospital.. that’s why the waiting times are allegedly so long. Again our opinion is that if you have had these problems for over three years the only person to blame is the management .
Step 3: The ex-employees frequently post on Facebook that management allegedly tend to take cruises multiple times a year. Again we were sent pictures regarding this but since they were obtained by friends from the managements page, it is our opinion it would be an invasion of privacy to post them.
THE FINAL OPINION: It is our opinion this rescue did a lot of good for many years. It is our opinion,based on many reviews from the public and ex-employees, that a lot changed once only paid board members remained in charge . It is our opinion that management needs to take responsibility for these changes for the worse and seek help from neighboring rescues that have proven a rescue/hospital can be a benefit for the community. It is our opinion that if you are understaffed you should not take in any more animals. Puppies will get rescued easily in south Florida so there is no reason to take them in if you lack space, staff or have an outbreak of a contagious disease.. another Rescue will save them. If proper numbers are maintained and animals receive proper isolation time, contagious disease can be prevented. It is our opinion that increased funds will not solve the problems of this organization since management so far has not shown a desire to change and in our opinion needs to prove to the public their over Two million dollar gross is being used appropriately and efficiently.
