KittyKind Yelp and Other Reviews Flagged and Gagged

Update - 2/16/2009
The Original First Review goes through a regular removal process. Was it flagged? It
was not flattering to KittyKind.

More people who have been deceived by them should post their experiences so that the
general public is informed and not misled by KittyKind's manipulated overposts of how
wonderful they are.

I'm glad my original review started many people on REVIEWING this unsavory
organization, some of the original reviews remain. For how long I wonder? Background:
see http://mysite.verizon....

According to their newest, top posted reviews, (emphasis on the term TOP POSTING)
KittyKind has improved their treatment of people who come in to adopt. Just as Marlene
Kess was attempting to bury the dead carcasses of cats in her NJ home, KittyKind is
trying to bury negative reviews on all sites including Commentsearch by "top posting".

I thought I was the only one who was aware of what they were doing until I came across
a snippet which apparently was flagged or somehow removed from yelp as were many
other less flattering reviews.

The Top Posting campaign is quite thorough, even a mention of their negative presence
posted in a Petco review has been removed.

Freedom of speech is ready to die in America.

All of the current reviews that remain say the same thing, use the same catch phrases
"amazing" "wonderful" "dedicated" "no-kill". Why do they feel the need to emphasize
no kill? hmm

I know KittyKind better than in passing. The original reviews on Yelp and
Commentsearch told the truth about KittyKind, now they are manipulated beyond belief.

Use the adoption kit I posted on my website and see if they'll answer any of the questions
you need the answers to. See if they'll even allow you to use the form. It will force them
to be more honest. I created the form because as an Adoption Representative for them for
7 years I know the things you should be asking in the adoption interview and I know that
you need to walk out of the adoption site with the cat's medical papers.

The microchip the cats have were inserted by the CACC before KittyKind even took the
cats out of the shelter. It is CACC mandatory procedure.

The chip needs to be activated by whoever adopts the cat and KittyKind is supposed to
give the paperwork to you so that this can be done. The only information on the chip at
the time of adoption is that this particular cat was removed from the CACC by KittyKind.
I have original files and I can prove this. And that's the truth.

My original (and the very first review of KK that Casey is referring to - NO she was not
the first to review) keeps disappearing from the site. Some other original unflattering
reviews are also gone from the site.

To protect yourself from going through the same experience I went through with this
organization print out the Foster/Adoption Kit that I posted so that you know what to ask
about and what papers to get when you adopt from them. As a former Adoption
Representative for KittyKind, I spent close to 7 years observing and learning what YOU
should be asking when you adopt or foster.

Take this adoption/foster kit with you. Ask the questions that protect you from dodged
questions and dropped files.

Be sure to get Original medical record hardcopies to take home with you, do not accept
copies.

Screen Before Fostering or Adopting

You're screened for adopting and fostering aren't you? You have a right to ask questions
too - PRINT OUT these FORMS and use them. There is no charge for this service.

Paper trails prevent "misunderstandings" or denying that a promise was made. Signed
paper holds up better than words that fade into the very air moments after being spoken.
Promises are made to be broken. A picture is worth a thousand words - yes, keep pictures
too!

1. Please do your homework before fostering since Marlene Kess, who was convicted of
animal abuse in NJ is now adopting out kittens in Park Slope, Brooklyn
2. Read these forms and ask the questions that I've designed to protect you - policies are
not something that should change depending on who is being recruited to foster or adopt..
3. Be sure to get everything in writing and signed - oral promises do not hold up in court
and are easily denied by the unscrupulous.

PAGE ONE
BE SURE TO GET THESE ANSWERS IN WRITING WITH A SIGNATURE FROM
THE AGENCY'S FOSTER CARE COORDINATOR

1. Length of foster care

FROM:_______________ ____________________ ____

TO:_________________ ____________________ _____

2. Do they put a maximum on number pets per house hold

3. If so, how many pets are too many?
4. How recently vaccinated and tested (get dates)

VACCINATED (and dates):

Rabies
Upper Resp Vacc
Other

TESTED (and dates):

FELK/FIV
Other

TEST RESULTS: (get dates)

5. Who is responsible for food & litter:

Remember that you are doing this agency a FAVOR by providing a place for the cat to
stay; by providing the necessary care and feeding the pet; monitoring for behavior and
health issues and giving LOVE to the animal. In some cases you are socializing the
animal for this group who will adopt it out and collect an adoption fee plus grant money
for "expenses" that they save on by fostering the pet out.

You should not be obligated to pay for Food, Litter or Medical Costs. They will also
claim expenses to preserve their tax free status - if you spend money on the fostered
animal get a letter from them for YOUR tax records. Be sure it is dated and has the
amount of money you are claiming - this line should not be left blank - it should be filled
in with the correct amount.

6. What kind of follow up will be done during the foster care period?

7. Will someone deliver or pick up pet/provide carrier

8. Will someone be in touch with me on a regular basis

9. What vet do they use

EMERGENCY VET FEES

10. What do they consider an emergency? Is this in agreement with what you consider an
emergency?

11. Who do I contact in case of an emergency (name)

12. Is there a cell phone number to call in an emergency?

13. What is the name/telephone number of your foster care coordinator?

14. If there is an emergency and I cannot reach the contact listed above or the foster care
coordinator are you prepared to reimburse me for emergency care?

15. Does this pet currently have any contagious parasites (Fleas, Coccidia, worms, skin
fungus or upper respiratory condition)

16. Are there any other Medical conditions present with regard to this foster pet: (you're
giving them the opportunity to come clean with you about any other medical issues you
don't know about raising.)

TAKE HOME a copy of this cat's medical files for the duration of the foster period (YOU
MUST HAVE THIS IN CASE YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CAT TO THE VET - THE
VET WILL WANT TO KNOW THE CAT'S MEDICAL HISTORY)

Please protect yourselves and your household - incoming diseases and infections passed
to you (ringworm) and your pets (upper respiratory etc) are usually not addressed by
rescue groups. In fact, see if their forms contain a clause protecting them from just this
situation and decide if you really want to put yourself and your pets in this situation.

If they balk at answering your questions, signing forms or respecting your boundaries
take it as a warning and RUN - don't walk AWAY from this group.

Go to my Profile and then my website where you'll find the Pages 2&3 - print them, use
them - get them to the public.

This is a review update that gives an ethical insight about KittyKind. In their 2006 form
990s KittyKind's income was declared to be about $210,000. Maddie's Fund award to
KittyKind, a Mayor's Alliance APO, $49,000 in grant money for 2007 and in the Spring
of 2008 an additional $25,000 which was for special needs cat adoptions. Although the
Judge at a trial in 2007 said to KittyKind's attorney, from the law firm of Vernon &
Ginsburg, "I advise your client to give this woman some kind of compensation because
we have just been to trial and she can do whatever she wants to with this information."

Despite the attorney's protestations about how wonderful the group was the Judge also
told the attorney, "I don't know how other groups operate but from what I have heard, this
group has taken advantage of this kind hearted woman for over $25,000". Referring to a
lawsuit in which "this woman", a World Trade Center survivor, who lives on disability
and who because of continued promises for reimbursement, paid for many KittyKind vet
bills for fostered cats the year 2004.

Isn't it coincidental that KittyKind received $25,000 from Maddie's Fund, according to
the Maddie’s Fund Jan/Feb 2008 newsletter, and that this amount would satisfy the
claims of this woman yet, KittyKind has failed to respond in any way to the Judge's
recommendation that some kind of compensation be made to her? At this point it is
beyond illogical for KittyKind to claim that they "just don't have the money." KittyKind
also claimed that these cats were not KittyKind rescues.

Because these fosters were taken in good faith with repeated verbal promises that these
expenses would be reimbursed, this woman - as was the case with many regular
KittyKind adoption representatives and volunteers, was never given Foster Forms by
KittyKind to fill out - even though other Individual foster people were required to fill out
foster forms. The Judge made his decision based on lack of paperwork although
KittyKind also claimed a lack paperwork for the Five cats they admitted were theirs.

See: http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls

10/26/2008
KittyKind actually sent me an email promising to pay for vet care for a cat I fostered for
them if I would keep him and 3 months later the VET received a letter saying they would
no longer pay for his vet care. The Board of Directors of KittyKind was changed and "no
one knew anything about the cat". The cat has one kidney and a compromised bladder.

Go to http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeyfg4f/kittycatfosterpitfalls
and see what happened when I fostered an Extra Special Cat that still needs a special diet
and meds etc.

Is this any way to run a rescue?

2/1/2008 First to Review

The only reason the one star rating is given is because the inadvertent good adoption
happens once in a while. KittyKind is an unethical organization that plays on the
kindness of goodhearted people in order to help them part ways with their money. They
claim they are broke and yet their 990s tell a vastly different story.

Their newsletters, not for profit tax returns and what they tell the General Public do not
agree.

I have the bills to prove what I spent when I was assured I would be reimbursed.

IMPORTANT

Any donations made to a charities group should be made as a check to the organization
and not to cash as this one way to assure donations will be properly claimed for tax
exempt purposes and not for a quick meal, parking or other cash items not related to the
animal's care.

These people need to be investigated not only by the Attorney General but by the IRS as
well for their many unethical practices.
According to their newest, top posted reviews, (emphasis on the term TOP POSTING)
KittyKind has improved their treatment of people who come in to adopt. Just as Marlene
Kess was attempting to bury the dead carcasses of cats in her NJ home, KittyKind is
trying to bury negative reviews on all sites including Commentsearch by "top posting".

I thought I was the only one who was aware of what they were doing until I came across
a snippet which apparently was flagged or somehow removed from yelp as were many
other less flattering reviews.

The Top Posting campaign is quite thorough, even a mention of their negative presence
posted in a Petco review has been removed.

Freedom of speech is ready to die in America.

All of the current reviews that remain say the same thing, use the same catch phrases
"amazing" "wonderful" "dedicated" "no-kill". Why do they feel the need to emphasize
no kill? hmm

I know KittyKind better than in passing. The original reviews on Yelp and
Commentsearch told the truth about KittyKind.

For more tricks of the trade and what to look for in 990s go to my website, I’ll walk you
through what to look for. With KittyKind you’ll also notice a Board that keeps changing
with the seasons.