Discovering and Disclosing The Truth About
Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions
(Norco, CA)
Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoptions
(Norco, CA)
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After carefully reviewing three years worth of Gentle Giants IRS 990 Tax Returns for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006, here are some of my thoughts:
If you read or hear any of the media that Burt Ward publicizes about GGR, he is constantly bragging about how many dogs they adopt out each year. At one point, he had stated that they adopt out 1,000 dogs per year. To back up this claim, a lawsuit complaint was filed in the County of Riverside against one of the adopters claiming that they have adopted over 10,000 dogs in the past 14 years. Assuming that GGR was not adopting out that large of a quantity when they first started, over the years the quantity has increased, it averages out to approximately 1,000 dogs per year. This would actually make Burt Ward's claims to be close to the truth. And since it IS filed with the County Courts, it MUST be true.
HOWEVER, based on the 2004 returns, they are claiming to have adopted out 200+ dogs, in 2005 they adopted out 300+ dogs, and again in 2006 they adopted out 300+ dogs. So which is it? 1,000 adoptions per year, or 300 dogs per year? These numbers aren't even close.
The next observation I made, and having in my possession a number of adoption contracts over the above referenced years, the average adoption fees for the year 2004 were between $400.00 to $650.00 ; average adoption fees for the years 2005 & 2006 were between $650.00 to $900.00.
Based on the estimated amount of dogs adopted per year of 1,000 dogs and based on a averaged adoption fee of $525.00 for 2005, and $775.00 for 2005 & 2006, then the total GROSS adoptions should be closer to $525,000.00 and $775,000.00. (I believe my math is correct. Check the math yourself.)
HOWEVER, gross adoption fees reported on the 990 Tax Returns for those years were MUCH lower than that. In 2004, they reported their gross adoption fees as $222,493.00, 2005 as $351,359.00, and 2006 as $337,160.00.
I don't know about you ... but these numbers just don't make any sense to me.
Here's a few more thoughts:
Listed in their very limited itemized expenses, here are some expenses that seem a bit questionable.
Feeding/Cleaning: They are allowed to have a maximum of 55 animals on their premises at all times, in accordance to the City of Norco Conditional Use Permit. So, based on that quantity, they are only feeding 55 dogs each day. IF they paid full retail price for each bag of food (averages at $20.00 per bag for the food they feed ... I personally have witnessed Burt feeding their "herd" Pedrigree dog food), and 1 bag will feed 1 dog for 30 days, they would need to purchase 55 bags of food per month for their dogs. IF they actually did buy the food, then the approximate amount they would be spending is $13,200.00 per year, not $31,900 to $35,350 as claimed in their 2004, 2005, & 2006 990s. However, that is not the case. Most of the food is donated to them by manufactures that have stale food and can’t sell in retail stores.
Training Fees: Burt and Tracy Ward provide their own training, don't they? In fact, they even sell a "Training and Wellness Program" Here is a quote from THEIR website:
“We offer our "Gentle Giants Training And Total Wellness Program" semi-annually for $495.00, which provides you with the following services and benefits for your adopted dog every six (6) months . . .”
They are charging for this service, yet the income from this service is NOT reported in any of their tax returns. Instead they have Training Fees listed in the expense itemization. So who did they pay for Training in 2005 - $30,159.00 and 2006 - $16,165.00?
Transportation: When dogs are relinquished to GGR, the owner of the dog MUST deliver the dog themselves. There are other occasions that volunteers will pick up dogs at animal shelters, these volunteers are NOT paid or reimbursed for their time or gas. This is a volunteer service. What transportation costs? 2004: $35,020.00 / 2005: $35,144.00 / 2006: $42,660.00
Website Maintenance: Burt Ward is a website guru. He maintains his own website. Yet they are claiming to be paying out $12,920.00 in 2005 and $14,307.00 in 2006. Who is he paying this too? Himself?
If you read or hear any of the media that Burt Ward publicizes about GGR, he is constantly bragging about how many dogs they adopt out each year. At one point, he had stated that they adopt out 1,000 dogs per year. To back up this claim, a lawsuit complaint was filed in the County of Riverside against one of the adopters claiming that they have adopted over 10,000 dogs in the past 14 years. Assuming that GGR was not adopting out that large of a quantity when they first started, over the years the quantity has increased, it averages out to approximately 1,000 dogs per year. This would actually make Burt Ward's claims to be close to the truth. And since it IS filed with the County Courts, it MUST be true.
HOWEVER, based on the 2004 returns, they are claiming to have adopted out 200+ dogs, in 2005 they adopted out 300+ dogs, and again in 2006 they adopted out 300+ dogs. So which is it? 1,000 adoptions per year, or 300 dogs per year? These numbers aren't even close.
The next observation I made, and having in my possession a number of adoption contracts over the above referenced years, the average adoption fees for the year 2004 were between $400.00 to $650.00 ; average adoption fees for the years 2005 & 2006 were between $650.00 to $900.00.
Based on the estimated amount of dogs adopted per year of 1,000 dogs and based on a averaged adoption fee of $525.00 for 2005, and $775.00 for 2005 & 2006, then the total GROSS adoptions should be closer to $525,000.00 and $775,000.00. (I believe my math is correct. Check the math yourself.)
HOWEVER, gross adoption fees reported on the 990 Tax Returns for those years were MUCH lower than that. In 2004, they reported their gross adoption fees as $222,493.00, 2005 as $351,359.00, and 2006 as $337,160.00.
I don't know about you ... but these numbers just don't make any sense to me.
Here's a few more thoughts:
Listed in their very limited itemized expenses, here are some expenses that seem a bit questionable.
Feeding/Cleaning: They are allowed to have a maximum of 55 animals on their premises at all times, in accordance to the City of Norco Conditional Use Permit. So, based on that quantity, they are only feeding 55 dogs each day. IF they paid full retail price for each bag of food (averages at $20.00 per bag for the food they feed ... I personally have witnessed Burt feeding their "herd" Pedrigree dog food), and 1 bag will feed 1 dog for 30 days, they would need to purchase 55 bags of food per month for their dogs. IF they actually did buy the food, then the approximate amount they would be spending is $13,200.00 per year, not $31,900 to $35,350 as claimed in their 2004, 2005, & 2006 990s. However, that is not the case. Most of the food is donated to them by manufactures that have stale food and can’t sell in retail stores.
Training Fees: Burt and Tracy Ward provide their own training, don't they? In fact, they even sell a "Training and Wellness Program" Here is a quote from THEIR website:
“We offer our "Gentle Giants Training And Total Wellness Program" semi-annually for $495.00, which provides you with the following services and benefits for your adopted dog every six (6) months . . .”
They are charging for this service, yet the income from this service is NOT reported in any of their tax returns. Instead they have Training Fees listed in the expense itemization. So who did they pay for Training in 2005 - $30,159.00 and 2006 - $16,165.00?
Transportation: When dogs are relinquished to GGR, the owner of the dog MUST deliver the dog themselves. There are other occasions that volunteers will pick up dogs at animal shelters, these volunteers are NOT paid or reimbursed for their time or gas. This is a volunteer service. What transportation costs? 2004: $35,020.00 / 2005: $35,144.00 / 2006: $42,660.00
Website Maintenance: Burt Ward is a website guru. He maintains his own website. Yet they are claiming to be paying out $12,920.00 in 2005 and $14,307.00 in 2006. Who is he paying this too? Himself?