On the CBS Evening News last evening, they ran an investigative report on The Wounded Warrior Project -- a well-known charity. See the report here: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/wounded-warrior-project-investigation-veterans-charity-accused-of-no-follow-up/

What does this have to do with dogs? At first glance nothing, however, when you look a little closer, it is closely connected to my earlier blog post just before the holidays, titled, "Year-End Tidings". In it, I discussed the financial health of some charities soliciting our hard-earned donations and their ratings by the investigative watchdog group Charity Navigator. Parenthetically, I notified and have been cautioning my family and friends on the Wounded Warrior Project charity ratings for years now. I caught on to them a long time ago.

Philanthropic organizations abound throughout our country, with many having stellar reputations touting excellent accounting & transparency records. Sadly, many charities are preying on the American people's goodwill. Goodwill to the tune of $358 billion dollars donated by Americans in 2014, according to Charity Navigator. These non-profit organizations financial performance ratings are weak, even deplorable as they line both their personal and corporate coffers with our money. Additionally, many of them have even been posted to the Donors Advisory List on the Charity Navigator website that includes several animal welfare groups!

In a few cases, some charities have even been shut down by a state attorney, see my earlier blog post involving the animal rescue group in upstate New York who had celebrity sponsors -- Year-End Tidings. Swindling and bilking money from well-intentioned donors is despicable and is happening all around us. Be careful with your money -- research and review before donating. If your charity does not appear on the comprehensive list it does not necessarily mean that they are unsafe -- you just need to do your homework. Read this information found on Charity Navigator to assist you in your investigations.

In short, don't throw up your hands and say the heck with it -- they seem to be reputable because they keep running numerous TV ads, and they have celebrity sponsors too! Do not assume they are reputable because they have a prominent celebrity spokesman. Be careful out there -- especially when it involves animals.