SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — A San Francisco non-profit basis that gives service canine to veterans is dealing with allegations of fraud. The group’s founder is accused of making the most of canine lovers and their need to assist veterans.
Some volunteers who partnered with the group to take care of the canine mentioned they’re cheated out of hundreds of {dollars} and the canine aren’t correctly skilled.
“What he’s doing is sick and it’s mistaken,” mentioned San Francisco resident Lysee Kaye.
Kaye was referring to Jacob Angel, founding father of Past a Buddy Basis.
In the course of the pandemic, Kaye turned a foster mum or dad to a pet via the non-profit, which claims to coach and accomplice service canine for veterans coping with PTSD. As collateral, she agreed to pay a refundable $2,500 deposit whereas the pet was beneath her care. After two canine she had fostered for 2 months obtained little or no coaching, Kaye turned suspicious and questioned how they’d turn out to be service canine. So final week, she left this system.
“I don’t consider they ever undergo coaching to really turn out to be service animals,” mentioned Kaye.
Angel wrote a verify for $3,050 to return her deposit and reimburse her bills. However the group froze the verify after Angel handed the verify to her. Another foster dad and mom have gone on social media or instructed KPIX 5 over the telephone complaining of comparable points: lack of canine coaching and Angel holding on to their $2,500 deposit.
Angel says these allegations are false.
“I’m not a con artist or rip-off artist. There are miscommunications,” mentioned Angel.
Angel mentioned an expert coach trains the puppies.
A current recipient instructed KPIX 5 over the telephone the service canine she purchased from Past a Buddy was well-trained.
Additionally, Angel mentioned he’ll refund Kaye and different foster dad and mom as soon as a veterinarian checks on the situations of the returned puppies.
However a neighbor who regularly runs into Angel and his puppies questioned the well-being of these puppies. Tor Smith mentioned Angel has left the puppies locked up in his automotive for hours at a time. He confirmed KPIX 5 an image of his spouse feeding a pet water via a small crack of a aspect automotive window.
“I’ve a canine. He’s like my son,” mentioned Smith. “It breaks my coronary heart to see every time a canine is being uncared for like that or doubtlessly abused.”
Accusers mentioned these allegations and Angel’s prior run-ins with the legislation present a sample of deceit.
Angel admitted he made a mistake when he shoplifted and obtained caught in Daly Metropolis in 2013. And he lately pled no contest to a verify fraud case in San Mateo County.
“Publicly, it appears horrible. That’s the sincere fact. It’s gonna look dangerous,” mentioned Angel.
However he mentioned he has positioned service canine in houses and helped numerous veterans. Actually, he mentioned San Francisco Mayor London Breed acknowledged his laborious work by proclaiming August 2, 2018 “Jacob Angel Day.”
“We’re not a rip-off. We’re making an attempt to make this world a little bit bit nicer,” mentioned Angel.
Nevertheless it’s not simply pet foster dad and mom accusing Angel. The Navy Well being Mission and Basis that Angel based and left in 2019 additionally accused him of embezzling greater than $100,000 from the non-profit and board members like Jason Dutton.
“It hurts each single day figuring out that I trusted somebody with components of my life, with belief of what I need to do with the (navy) neighborhood. And this occurred,” mentioned Dutton. “It is a grasp at his craft. And please watch out, please watch out with this gentleman.”
Spencer Dayton is now the president of the Navy Well being Mission and Basis, which additionally gives service canine to veterans. He mentioned the veterans who paid Angel for canine both by no means obtained one or acquired an untrained canine. He mentioned after Angel obtained kicked out of the Navy Well being Mission and Basis, Angel began Past a Buddy Basis.
“It’s disheartening. It makes me offended and it hurts my soul,” mentioned Dayton. “We’re right here to assist folks.”
Dayton and different accusers have filed police stories and confirmed the stories to KPIX 5. However to date, they mentioned the police have executed nothing.
“Have any expenses been filed? No. Have I been contacted by legislation enforcement with regard to the difficulty that occurred with my prior group? No,” mentioned Angel.
The accusers mentioned they need to go public to warn others about Past a Buddy Basis.
Angel mentioned his group expenses veterans for the service canine primarily based on their incomes. He mentioned the costs of the 4 canine which were bought to date to the recipients vary from $1,800 to $4,000.
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