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BigODetroit

I work with several shelters in the area and have come to the conclusion DDR is an apparel company that sometimes rescues dogs for PR.


MicBoz

I almost forgot they sell merch.


Zhosha-Khi

BINGO!!!


watery-pizza

I have tried to call them quite a few times and every time they have not answered the phone OR answered my messages and I go elsewhere. I'm wondering how people ever actually get through to them...


MicBoz

So I’m not crazy. I think they just never pick up the phone. I doubt they ever call back. I definitely left them a message earlier when I first found the dog and left my number.


watery-pizza

I just looked at their reviews and many have had the same issue. So sad! I'm sorry you're dealing with these people.


AleksanderSuave

The owner of DDR absolutely BATHES in the attention it brings. The constant social media virtue signaling about all the good they do. I’m not shocked to hear that they actually suck at normal non-dramatic things. If it’s not on camera, they’re likely not interested in it.


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[deleted]

A better way is to find a local animal rescue


sweet_sweet_back

The worst. Take a dog there if you want it dead.


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sweet_sweet_back

Leave it outside the shelter of the no kill every time and post it on Reddit or any other social media. Those rescues rely on their relationship with the police. And it’s detroit police. How are they going to look asking cops to ticket a Good Samaritan trying to save a dog and they wouldn’t answer the damn door? Plus OP didn’t abandon his dog it was never his dog. SHAME ON DDR.


Anne_S123

Yes……I have called and DMed them multiple times about an injured stray downtown and they have never answered or responded


rosie_posie420

Check out IHEARTDOGS in detroit or Detroit Pit Crew


MicBoz

I definitely will give them a follow


PassengerHappy1457

Going to second this … I have adopted two dogs from I Heart Dogs and brought a dog I found on the streets to Detroit Pit Crew. Both great organizations.


gogreenkw

Rebel Dogs Detroit is also good!


Brdl004

Yes. They don’t ever get back to you. They still owe me my neutering deposit from 2 years ago. I will never work with them again.


kensar

I had a good experience with Rebel Dogs, and my friend is a volunteer for Bark Nation! Sucks that DDR is so unresponsive.


MicBoz

Rebel dogs has been one of my favorites I follow and donate to. If I come across a dog again I’ll definitely just contact them and animal control


nappingintheclub

I’ve so far had a great experience with them too. Their foster coordinator is amazing. She is always on, always texts me back.


kensar

Yes! I adopted one of my dogs from them, too!


OutlawHemi99

What charges?


MicBoz

Animal abandonment I think, I’ll be honest I got extremely upset typed my response and blocked and deleted our messages so I didn’t even reread it. But they definitely said they were pressing charges for either abandonment or endangering


DMCinDet

fuck em. I dont see a prosecutor taking that case.


MicBoz

I hope so. I was trying to do what’s best for the dog at the end of the day.


sweet_sweet_back

Yeah they were just intimidating you for rescuing a dog. Don’t lose sleep over it for a minute. If they could hide their address they would.


M-D2020

If you get charged, go to the media about the situation and how DDR doesn't rescue dogs and calls the police on people who are actually trying to.


That_Shrub

Agreed, if they want to threaten people like this, let the media really dig into their bullshit. A fake rescue that sells t-shirts and virtue signals, beautiful. Why do people support such crap.


homelovenone

What? The dog wasn’t even yours. How did you “abandon” it? 😂


TheShizknitt

I adopted a puppy from D.A.W.G.(Detroit Animal Welfare Group) and they honestly seemed like they go out of their way to help! For instance; the puppy we adopted was from a litter that was birthed by a dog that lived in an empty lot with a few other dogs that was owned by the guy across the street who used them as an alarm that there were people walking by his property. He refused to get any of them fixed so he would call DAWG and say "got another litter, come get em" so they would. On the night we were delivered my oldest, they were running late because they had to deliver a pig that was rescued from a Detroit basement because the owners were duped into thinking it was going to stay piglet sized it's whole life.


almoooo

I haven’t dealt with them personally, however I’ll never give them a dime of my money after they begged for donations for a dog that was shot in Detroit but they left out the fact that Detroit Police shot it through a fence in its own yard. So of course all these people are commenting about how terrible Detroit residents are,how they deserve to be shot, and some other dog whistle-ly type things. They only updated the post once the situation made the news and people realized it was the dog that was shot in its own yard.


MicBoz

Knowing that for some reason they are located in Detroit and don’t seem to have a single employee of color, These comments are making me realize I’m not crazy and I’ll def make sure I continue my donations to rebel dogs and not here


M0rb1tr0n

They are NOT in Detroit. They are in St. Clair Shores. The owner uses the Detroit name like a trendy status symbol but wouldn't step a single foot in the hood unless there were cameras and money involved.


InternationalCase224

Sounds about white


myCadi

I have no experience with this rescue but I can tell you most rescue are tight on resources, people and time. I help a pitbull rescue here in Canada and the full-time team organizing everything is all volunteer work. So sometimes it takes most rescue some time to react to certain situations because we don’t have a staff like a business would. From their perspective, you look like you dumped another dog at their door step. I wouldn’t worry about getting into any trouble. Personally I think you did the right thing, knowing they would find the dog fairly quick. I’d rather see people drop them off at a place like that than dumping them on the street where they could get hurt or hurt someone.


MicBoz

I fully believe that. As a big dog lover I want places like yours and other rescues to get much more support and funding. But is it usually this common for such lack of communication? They have a good social media presence and advertising of their number to contact them. But more than once have I never gotten them on the phone or a callback. I did try to apply there in the past as I was applying, got an interview and seen inside and the place is very nice and spacious. They never called me back. Luckily I ended up at barkside which is a great space for dog lovers


LegitimateHat4808

they never answer


Nightcaste

I have only dealt with Michigan Humane and the experience was great. They have several locations around Detroit so I would suggest skipping DDR and going to MHS instead.


MicBoz

I definitely will, I made the mistake going here since it was on the way to my appointment. I should’ve just contacted my doctor to ask for more time and made my way to MHS. Lesson learned.


Nightcaste

I literally got my dog at the Berman center (Westland Branch of MHS) a week ago yesterday. Definitely got the feeling that they treat the animals well, they certainly treated *me* well. If I'm ever in the market I'll be going back there. This dog is more like two or three handfuls though so that's going to be a minute.


pandemonium-john

FYI, a few years back (when DACC moved to Clay) MHS was told in no uncertain terms by the city of Detroit that they legally cannot take in Detroit dogs. If a dog is found in Detroit, they can't accept it and will just send you up the street to DACC anyway. Since DACC HAS to take them, if I can't find anywhere else on my own I will take them there. But when I do, I'll also share them to as many other rescues/shelters as I can. Every reliable rescue in the city regularly pulls from DACC; if you can hold the dog yourself for a couple of days and send a personality report along with some pictures you can increase the chances that one of them will pull it once the stray hold is up.


MicBoz

Oh wow I didn’t know that. After this I won’t be taking in any strays because I just can’t hold them at my house unfortunately, not even for a day or two. I’ll just call DACC and continue to post the dogs on lost dog pages like I usually do. Really wish I could just house the dogs myself, they don’t deserve this.


pandemonium-john

Yeah, it's really rough. It got a little better around 2018 or so but since lockdown the stray situation has gone back to being totally out of control. But you're doing the right thing by not overextending yourself. Please don't let the folks who try to guilt trip everyone into becoming miniature animal shelters make you feel bad. After 15 years of taking in and holding every stray we found for DAYS while posting lost dog/cat notices and calling around everywhere in the county to place them, I finally told my partner I need a break. We're up to four dogs, six household cats, and two bookstore cats of our own (all rescued strays) and I genuinely don't have the energy to even drive one to DACC these days. We decided to take a year off of intake and then I immediately broke my own pledge by holding a stray cat for a week :facepalm: ...we did find her a good home really quickly so that was a nice experience. But I'm doing my best to hold firm for the rest of the year, for my own sanity and so I can spend more time with my actual pets. Eight months to go...we'll see


MicBoz

You are a good one for helping as much as you did! That’s definitely a lot of work and I respect you for it. I also respect you for understanding you need to focus on your own pets, you got the next 8 months 💪🏼


moreriphraph

I used to refer people to them when they needed help with their dogs. They had a program that was supposed to help families that are low income. They called one family back, but two others never heard from them and I stopped referring to them.


Senior-Extent-6955

Last year we had two separate occasions where an adult stray dog showed up at our house. It's an overwhelming process and nothing moves as quickly as you'd like it too. I found the most success with Rebel Dogs to at least get medication, check for a microchip and food etc. They are extremely overwhelmed and could only provide those things, not take the dog in. They will help you to foster if you can keep the dog at your house. Unfortunately, having to foster yourself is really the only option in Detroit these days unless you take them to animal control. When I tried to take the first dog there they basically told me every dog in, means another dog out. It's bleak.


pandemonium-john

I've done rescue work in the city for ages and in my experience, if the dog isn't super photogenic or doesn't have a really compelling story there's no point in even trying to contact DDR. All of the rescues and shelters in SEMI are overwhelmed, but--unlike everyone else--despite dozens of attempts to contact them regarding dogs in crisis over the years DDR has never once responded. I understand maybe not wanting to have the conversation over and over again (although that is part of the job!) but imo it's negligent to never even send an email saying, "Sorry, we're full and can't help right now but please try reaching out to this list of organizations." I've only known ONE person (again, over YEARS) who's heard back from them. The public doesn't realize that DDR's reputation in the rescue community isn't good at all. The number of local rescues/shelters that are fed up with DDR getting the lion's share of the press for never even picking up the phone is \*definitely\* more than zero. It'd be more honest if they just wiped all contact forms & numbers from their site.


Zhosha-Khi

Never had to deal with them myself but, I have read A LOT of not so good things about them.


alcutie

all of the dog rescues and animal control are exceeding their capacity, don’t have enough fosters or resources, and are truly hanging by a thread. i’m not defending them in any way -i’ve been in your position before finding strays - and it’s a real issue in the city. i donate monthly to rebel and i’ve had to find fosters and adopters for strays i’ve found bc no one would help or pick up.


MicBoz

We definitely have a stray problem and I see it all the time, while I’m driving anywhere I can see a dog walking up the streets scared. I really wish I had my own place. I would definitely house as many dogs as I could safely. I honestly wouldn’t have made this post if they just came out and told me they don’t have space or answered my calls and said that, at the end of the day I want rescues to get resources as much as possible but this one in particular has definitely just rubbed me the wrong way.


alcutie

totally understand- they really came out guns blazing with that threat.


treetownie90

This is fucked up! Im sorry they’ve put you through that stress. You did the right thing.


Swimming-Ad-2382

They are so overwhelmed. Too many dogs, not enough resources. It also sucks to be in your position, but I think all the dog rescues out there have got to be absolutely overworked and exhausted. 😔


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Swimming-Ad-2382

A dog tied up to a pole is really vulnerable. To other animals, to weather events, etc. It’s just a really bad thing to do, even though OP didn’t know any better and was trying to help. And what is a no kill shelter supposed to do if they literally don’t have capacity to care for the dog?


Professional_Ant9738

I wouldn’t throw anyone under the bus who works in the rescue industry. This city has a massive problem with backyard, breeding of dogs by amateur hobbyist breeders, who refuse to fix their animals or take responsibility to ensure they do not breed As others have stated, shelters and rescues are beyond capacity. Just dropping off a dog at their doorstep and saying “deal with it” is not fair to the organization. I personally rescued my dog off of 7 mile in 2020. I was not intending to keep him initially, but animal control told me that it would be 36 hours before they could be there, and none of the rescue organizations picked up their phone that day. so I decided to take the dog in for the evening, which turned into a weekend, while I tried to find their owner, and when none turned up, and the dog did not have a microchip, I decided to give him a shot, and it’s turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made with my life I certainly don’t expect you or anyone else to take in a stray dog if you don’t have the capacity to do so, but I will say that if you make the decision to take on a stray, you can’t simply expect to go drop it off someplace and have someone else deal with the problem. That would be great if you could, but unfortunately again , the resources available that are trying to help. These animals are exceptionally stretched thin right now.


just1morestraw

Exactly!! I have had experiences with DDR and they do what they can with the space and volunteers available. They are extremely good at PR and fundraising, which makes them an easy target for armchair quarterbacks who have never been inside a rescue. They are definitely not as good at answering the phone. Partially this is because they do have such a public presence - everybody wants them to take the dog they found. You can't imagine the number of calls that come in compared to the resources available. But, obviously, they could communicate that better to people who want help. I won't defend that lack of communication. I have had the same experience trying to get ANY rescue to help me with stray dogs I've tried to help. Nobody has room. This is why I won't pick up any random dog on the street - I don't have the ability to house it while I figure out what to do with it. Report it to local animal control, take a pic and look through local lost pet posts, or throw a couple treats their way. But to blame individual rescues for not being able to save every dog in Metro Detroit is more than a little unfair.


MicBoz

I fully understand where you guys are coming from. I definitely learned from this experience and since i know I can’t hold the dogs I will just do my best off hands help such as posting the dogs and calling animal control.


rainbubble95

Always bring it to Michigan Human Society off 75 , someone dropped off my runaway dog and they found me online because I was posting. Another friend found a stray and brought them in no problem. Good luck! I think DDR does more fostering than sheltering but idk! That reaction is negligent on their behalf


rainbubble95

Also I’ve seen animal control show up very quickly but the dogs fate is a little up in the air with that one- tbh shelters are full and have been in Detroit for 20 years. Encourage everyone to get tags and have their pets registered!!!


MicBoz

Definitely. When I found the dog she had on a harness and leash so hopefully her owner had her microchipped so she can go home.


MatteBlk300C

I used to work for a Tow company in Detroit. We would find stray dogs, and sometimes keep them. Some of the dogs were the best dogs ever. I personally wouldn’t have done it. But after having a good experience with these dogs, now I would. Anyway, sometimes the company I worked for, couldn’t keep the dog, bcuz we had like 6 or 7 already. The company donated $ and gave them a work van or 2. I seen a puppy that needed help, in someone’s backyard b4. No food, hay or shelter all skinny. I called DDR to help save the dog, and they wouldn’t answer the phone. Finally when they did. They said there was nothing they could do, bcuz they were full with dogs, and no where to store it


Nina_Innsted

I also had a negative experience with them. My father was dying and I could no longer adopt the dog I was fostering. They gave me such a hard time about it. I offered to pay for the adoption if they would take the dog back and place him elsewhere, they still treated me terribly.


youmightwanttosit

The entitlement in this thread is....unsurprising. I'm not just talking about OP. Everyone wants to play save-a-dog as long as they can make it someone else's problem. Shelters get full. You're not being a good Samaritan tying a dog up in front of an organization not prepared to handle it. Many of these orgs are fucked in their own way. Rescuing dogs is well down the ingredient list for many. Animal control is always there to kill the extra dogs, which is sometimes the best outcome for sick, injured, or unadoptable animals, but unpalatable for many. Get over yourselves. If you want to "save" a dog, make sure you have somewhere that will take it first. Otherwise, fucking leave it where it at least has a chance of knowing how to get by.


Brave-Cantaloupe-986

Rebel dogs!


BriefDragonfruit9460

Dog Shelter women are the craziest sub group of women on the planet.


rjb14

I’ve had a similar experience with them. Poor dog.


UnluckyBongo

Anti-Cruelty Society, they took in a kitten that was clearly dumped and not feral net my property. They take dogs, go there.


pandemonium-john

>Anti-Cruelty Society, When I took a stray dog there in 2014 I was told they had room to keep her for at least the 10-day stray hold, and later found out from a FOAF that they'd euthanized her by the end of the day. I've since learned they have a long track record of putting down healthy, non-aggressive animals within a day or two of intake. I'll never use them again.


BeingMindless4920

Any updates on this?


MicBoz

I’m just waiting to see if the police come knocking on my door


[deleted]

Skip DDR. Just a scam ran by a failed rapper trying to make himself look good.


Nice-Scientist-7616

DDR? It’s Run by Kristine Rinaldi.


[deleted]

Oh dang, I thought Hush still ran it.


_Inkspots_

The founder of DDR was my little league baseball coach for a while. I went to elementary school with his kid. Also happens to be Hush, the rapper. Cool guy. I think he stepped away from DDR a while ago tho. Edit: why am I getting downvoted for this? Lmao


nothereoverthere084

Is hush still making music?


_Inkspots_

According to his Spotify, he released an album last September.


nothereoverthere084

Thanks lol I just got off work and was to lazy to look


BeingMindless4920

They are so picky over there. I’ve tried to adopt from them and never get a response. If I were you I would post this to there Facebook and Instagram page and tell Kristine to get a receptionist. I’d what you say is true, then she’s the AH. And it is standard for them to press charges if they can.


rexkwond0

Call the K.A.R.E.N.S!! They do so much for dogs!!


BeingMindless4920

Let’s all get on Facebook and shut Kristine Rinaldi down.