RDRS Lawsuit Dismissed
CHERRY VALLEY—A Class Action Federal RICO and Charity Fraud lawsuit filed by Arlene Dean of Ulster County, New York on Thursday, November 2, 2023 against Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers and others has been voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. The complaint alleged that the respondents organized to defraud a large number of animal-welfare donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars with a sham dog rescue and that they used the donations for the personal benefit of the board and their friends, including amassing a million-dollar real estate portfolio for founder Elizabeth Keller.
At the time the suit was filed, Keller said, “We’ve never been sued before, but the truth will come out.”
Rescue Dogs, based in Cherry Valley, is a partner of the New York City Animal Care and Control shelter that receives stray dogs in Cherry Valley to train them as companions for disabled war veterans. It is a charity registered with the New York State Department of Corporations and uses a website and Facebook pages to solicit donations.
An investigation into living conditions of animals on Rescue Dogs properties conducted in August 2023 by the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office found the dogs to be healthy but that living conditions needed improvement. A follow-up visit by law enforcement confirmed that conditions had been improved and the investigation was closed in September 2023. The civil case initiated by Dean was voluntarily dismissed on December 25.
Dogs currently available for adoption through Rescue Dogs Rescue Soldiers include Jules, a 2-year-old male basset hound/American bulldog mix, and Millie, a 2-year-old female American pit bull terrier.
