04/09: Making It Look Better Than It Really Is
Category: Spay/Neuter
Posted by: admin
The Hermitage has an item on its website implying that it receives financial backing from the State of Arizona. It lists the Arizona Department of Transportation as a "Corporate contributor".
This is misleading. AZ DOT administers the funds collected by the special fund license plate program, which includes the Pet Friendly/Spay and Neuter License plates. Money from these plates is given to non-profit organizations for the specific purpose of spay and neuter programs. These are distributed to the public as certificates for discounts, or used to fund spay/neuter drives at clinics. These monies do NOT go to provide financial support to animal groups. The Hermitage does not provide spay or neuter services to the public, and takes its own cats to the Humane Society to obtain those services. What the Hermitage did do was serve as an adminstrator for some of these funds--how much, no one knows, since The Hermitage does not make those records public.
I just sent the AZ DOT a letter asking them to require the Hermitage to alter its website to indicate the true nature of the funds. I also encouraged them to investigate whether the Hermtiage truly qualifies as an eligible non-profit, in view of its repeated refusal to make financial records available to the public or media. I don't think such an organization needs to be adminstering public money.
You can let the Department of Transportation know your own opinion by sending them an email. Go to:
https://wwwa.azdot.gov/contact_adot/index.aspx
This is misleading. AZ DOT administers the funds collected by the special fund license plate program, which includes the Pet Friendly/Spay and Neuter License plates. Money from these plates is given to non-profit organizations for the specific purpose of spay and neuter programs. These are distributed to the public as certificates for discounts, or used to fund spay/neuter drives at clinics. These monies do NOT go to provide financial support to animal groups. The Hermitage does not provide spay or neuter services to the public, and takes its own cats to the Humane Society to obtain those services. What the Hermitage did do was serve as an adminstrator for some of these funds--how much, no one knows, since The Hermitage does not make those records public.
I just sent the AZ DOT a letter asking them to require the Hermitage to alter its website to indicate the true nature of the funds. I also encouraged them to investigate whether the Hermtiage truly qualifies as an eligible non-profit, in view of its repeated refusal to make financial records available to the public or media. I don't think such an organization needs to be adminstering public money.
You can let the Department of Transportation know your own opinion by sending them an email. Go to:
https://wwwa.azdot.gov/contact_adot/index.aspx
