This morning several people contacted me about a $10,000 fundraiser on youcaring.com for an animal rescue in Eastern Washington.
Here is the fundraising request for Shepherd’s Way on youcaring.org. Image from youcaring.org.
The Shepherd’s Way Animal Rescue is run by Allan and Carrie Aenk. They claim they have set up a “Sanctuary for Wildfire victims in the cities surrounding them” and has opened its property to “dozens of displaced families with a tent city on their 500 acres.”
On August 21 Allan Aenk the rescue also claimed that the ranch was “the official command center for volunteer fire fighters. We need prayer and finances for food to feed the 150 firefighters that will be here by Monday.”
On August 24 the Rescue claimed it was “about 3.5 miles to the closest fire. Their property is safe for now. Many more people forced to leave their homes are still seeking refuge on the Sanctuary’s grounds.”
The sources that contacted me question the legitimacy of the fundraising appeal because of several inconsistencies in its story:
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- According to realtor.com, the Shepherd’s Way property is only 20 acres, not 500 acres.
- Someone that drove by the Shepherd’s Way property today saw no tents with displaced families and no “command center for volunteer firefighters.”
- On August 21 the rescue post the following message:“Level 3 evacuation order just given. Fast moving wall of flames headed in our direction. We have less then
Shepherd’s Way claims it is giving dozens of families displaced by the fires a “sanctuary” where they can stay, but this picture on their fundraising plea is of people displaced by a wildfire in California last September. Photo from desertnews.com.
5 minutes. Love you guys.” However, sources told me the fire never came within 8 miles of the Shepherd’s Way property. Furthermore, a level 3 fire evacuation means the fire is in the area, people are to leave immediately. But it never explained what happened after the evacuation order was given.
- The picture of the tents on the fundraising appeal was NOT taken on its property. It is a picture from a story from last September about a wildfire in California. We have yet to see any pictures of the tents of displaced families or the firefighter command center on Shepherd’s Way property.
- One of the pictures of a raging fire on the fundraising appeal is NOT from the current Washington Wildfires.
- A woman named Stephanie Lonsdale contacted Jim Caruso who is the Emergency Services Director for Stevens County, WA who said the fundraising appeal was a fraud.
This picture on Shepherd’s Way youcaring.org fundraiser is a stock photo taken years ago and not from the Carpenter Rd. fire.
- The fundraising appeal was written and posted by a group in Florida called Lost Pet Found Pet. It is unclear why a rescue group in Florida is raising $10,000 for an animal rescue group in Washington.
I’ve called and emailed Shepherd’s Way to get their side of the story but I haven’t heard back from anyone there.
While I don’t have official confirmation yet that the YouCaring fundraiser for Shepherd’s Way is a fraud, there a plenty of red flags about the appeal that raise serious questions about its validity.
I recommend that people give to other causes to help the residents and firefighters and Eastern Washington until the validity of the Shepherd’s Way appeal can be confirmed.
This is really upsetting. When a 501c3 is stating they are a command center for 150 firefighters in order to get money donated and their local emergency services director confirmed they are not, one has to wonder what else are they telling people that is intentionally misleading. How awful must one’s integrity be to make up such lies in order to get unsuspecting people to donate their hard earned money? This causes great concern for the animals this “rescue” has and keeps taking in if they resort to fradulent statements to capitalize on a fire. Just despicable.
Other people have the same concern. Someone is looking into it.
I copied and pasted this and messaged YouCaring FB page. It may have already been done. I asked for a comment. We’ll see. This really pisses me off. Keep us informed!
Thank you. At least the finally took down the fundraiser.
They KILLED Max, a German Shepard from the Woodbridge Animal Shelter who they stepped up to rescue at the end of August. The 3 people involved, Allen and Carrie Aenk, and Kathleen Tortu – Bowles were still insisting this afternoon, that Max was sent to an undisclosed location in Pennsylvania posting up a fake picture of another dog. The dog was euthanized somewhere on the way back to Washington state, in Ohio, after some type of altercation with Carrie. Nice coverup attempt, heads up on this SCAM rescue everyone. RIP Max, you deserved the opportunity to live out your life.
These people seem to have a blatant disregard for the law or fellow man to use a disaster like the fire situation in WA for personal gain. I really hope the authorities follow through with their investigation and will cite them accordingly. In the article, the Lost Pet Found Pet pointed the finger at The Shepherd’s Way and the rescue did the same to Lost Pet Found Pet, yet in another youcaring.com fundraiser for a dog named Max to go to this rescue (allegedly), this Lost Pet Found Pet made a donation as recently as today toward the fund giving them rave reviews. Something stinks.
Um the acres the Shepherd way scammers with their dogs are across the street from me ..they live in a double wide trailor ..this property may be 20 acres but this is wooded and secluded off highway ..they actually live a little to the right of me ..( I live across from highway from them ..the horses are kept at a different location further west as everyone knows where the horses are . there is 2 different property’s
Yeah that was after they got in trouble for stealing the Amish Homestead around the corner
Thank you for letting me know.
Ha, never give money to the Aenks. It’s always one thing or another with them, and many people in the equestrian community around here know them by their schemes. They have been caught multiple times pleading to people’s emotions with these tragic stories and then donations come flooding in, and there’s never any legitimate proof for the work they are doing or where the funds are going. No accountability whatsoever. So no, do NOT give to these people, it will be lining crook’s pockets. I am a completely objective party and have never been personally victimized by them, but I know of many who were on varying occasions.
Here is some information for you to verify if it’s valid or not. I had heard of this scam this morning as well and this is what I found when researching it. http://rescuescams.blogspot.com/2015/07/shepherds-way-animal-rescue-angels-in.html
These people are crooks! I have personally met them and they prey on sincere people wanting to help. She is a convicted felon and her husband was in on it, read the court case above. They are listed in many more court cases in WA. Two years ago she tried to scam Okanogan County by “organizing” a roundup of “wild” horses (read here horses turned loose by irresponsible people that were allowed to breed year after year). She was going to have Animal Planet involved to film a documentary (she has connections you know!!) and Tom Dorrance’s son (he is a great friend of theirs LOL) taming the horses. Then she ripped off a guy from Moses Lake I believe for a semi load of hay by giving him an envelope that was supposed to have his payment in it when all it contained was a note “Thanks for the Donation” which he didn’t realize until he was back home. Saved the county a lot of embarrassment I think. What a couple of losers!!
I Just want you to know I have posted this info on my page Kamiah Wild Fire Help.
Decent words can not describe how I feel about stories such as this!
I started my page out of desperation looking for info on the fires because my elderly parents live in Kamiah and I felt helpless wanting to help yet living 800 miles away in WA State.
I was thinking maybe it was time to shut that page down because my purpose was over until I read this.
Stevens County Fire Protection District 1: A majority of these claims were false and the matter was turned over to the Stevens County Sheriff’s office for further investigation. There was never a tent city nor was there ever an “official” command post at this location (very rarely will a post be set up on private property). The command post has always operated from the Fruitland Bible Camp and for a short while (2 days) there was a secondary site running out of the Springdale Fire Station (our Station 7). The fire did remain far from this location, which has difficult access to it (we had a fire up there last year).
Thank you Chief Bucy for confirming what we had been told. We have been accused of fabricating the facts in the story, so I appreciate your confirmation that a tent city and command post never existed on the Shepherd’s Way property. I think it’s despicable that someone used the wildfires and the deaths of 3 firefighters to scam people into giving them money. Thank you for your work – I hope you get the fires under control soon.
Makes me sick to my stomach that people behave is such a dispicable way. We organized a donation drive in Bellingham and many people gave kindly from the hearts. But there were some who were unsure of the validity of our donation drive and I can understand why because of people like this. So sad. We were able to bring a huge truck load of goods over for the firefighters and people. There are many in need and i wish we could believe in the good of all but unfortunately it is not so.
Thank you to all who are blowing the whistle on the scheme.
Thank you for helping out the firefighters.
Since I was there, I think I should shed some light on this situation, because it appears that a lot of people are making assumptions and running with incomplete information. I have known the Aenks for at least four or five years. I have seen the dogs they rescue and train to give to vets as companion dogs. These dogs would be destroyed if it weren’t for the Aenks. They set up a refugee off Springdale Hunters Rd. with the full expectation that refugees and firefighters would be cared for there. I was there for only one of the days, to set up communications protocols so that the different groups, fire fighting volunteers, medical, security, logistics, and search and rescue would have their own communications channels. While I was there, volunteers brought in supplies to help with what was expected to be a very trying situation, because of the Carpenter Fire in the area. Word had been put out on the internet that refugees could come there.
The Aenks enlisted the help of two organizations to assist in getting volunteer fire fighters and supplies to “the Ranch” as it was called, and the operation was named the Silverstar Operation. The two groups were NERT (National Emergency Response Team) and The Patriot Railroad. By way of disclosure, I am the executive officer for ERT of Washington State.
Unfortunately, ERT had some bad apples in it (that’s been dealt with). They used Patriot Railroad to send supplies across country for the operation and apparently some bad apples in that group were diverting the supplies to other organizations for their own use. Lots of accusations and drama, and bad feelings have led to internet mud throwing at ERT and at the Aenks.
As it turned out, the facilities at the ranch were not needed, the fire got more under control and eventually the rain came, as you know. The goods donations, as I understand it, were packed up and sent to another refugee center in or near Omak. I am not aware of any financial contributions being received, but if there were, I am confident that they were used to buy supplies for the Silverstar operation.
Digging up past criminal history is totally irrelevant to the way the Aenks conducted this humanitarian operation, and I know that Carrie took very careful accounting of every sort of contribution. She is a paralegal, leads a 501(c)3 organization, and is meticulous with details.
I hope you will consider what I have said before you make any further libelous remarks about them. They are considering legal action against people spreading lies about them and their organization.
Thank you for your comments. My posts are not “libelous.” As I noted, the fundraising appeal contained several questionable items. The property never had a “tent city” but the pictures of dozens of tents used in the appeal was taken from an article about another fire in CA in 2014. At least one of the pictures on the appeal was of a giant raging fire, but it too was taken at least a couple of years ago – I found it in a story from 2013.
Furthermore, firefighters discredited the claims made in the fundraising appear. Jim Caruso who is the Emergency Services Director for Stevens County, WA said the fundraising appeal was a fraud. Mike Bucy, the Chief for Stevens County Fire District 1, said the following:
“A majority of these claims were false and the matter was turned over to the Stevens County Sheriff’s office for further investigation. There was never a tent city nor was there ever an “official” command post at this location (very rarely will a post be set up on private property). The command post has always operated from the Fruitland Bible Camp and for ashort while (2 days) there was a secondary site running out of the Springdale Fire Station (our Station 7). The fire did remain far from this location, which has difficult access to it (we had a fire up there last year).”
Are you saying that these firefighters made libelous statements?
I disagree that past criminal history is irrelevant, especially when one of the founders of the group soliciting the money was convicted of fraud and has other encounters with law enforcement.
I based my opinion about the fundraiser on these (and other) facts. I was not “spreading lies” about the Aenks or their organization. If I was I doubt the fundraiser would have been taken down after I started writing about it.
FYI – I left a message and sent an email to the Aenks to get their side of the story but they never responded.
I would say they are Scammers – and they need to be stopped – maybe back to Jail for her and anyone involved. I pray that if they have any rescue animals on site- that they are saved from them. who knows if they are mistreating them.
From a message just received from Allen: “Seattle Dog Spot is welcome to see the post of what is said on the Rescue page. We have heard nothing from them and if they say otherwise, they are lying.”
I’ve seen the post. Conveniently, they have a contact form on their website so I don’t have a record of the email I sent, they do. My phone shows I made a call to them on Sept. 1. I really don’t care whether or not he believes it or not.
Good call smart ..they are scammers ..good work ..sheriff’s were out there a few times already before this last scam
What organization was that you say you are the executive director of? Would that be NERT mentioned in the sentence above that statement, or ERT. Could be just a typo, just want to be clear. Also do you have a phone number for that organization for verification? After all transparency is an increasing issue when dealing with fraud accusations. It is very important to make a claim and then honor that claim.
We aren’t scared of you clown your tactics don’t scare us as we already know they are scammers …the sherrifs were already out there several times and your clout means nothing
Looks like your strong arm tactic threats aren’t working now ..so either you pop up real credentials or you are another victim which is it ..?
Well I hope that you in turn guard your self against the aenks. I thought that people were just being mean or spreading lies because they were doing good things but oh no that is NOT the case. Believe me I was duped by these 2 and I was ripped off for well honestly there is no way to put a price on family heirlooms, vehicles that were taken from me and sold to others. Things that were my deceased parents. And yes I do have proof of all of this. It tears me up taht people are being scammed used and abused by these two I am sorry I cannot even identify that these two are human people. They have done so much to so many people.
You are incorrect ..they are scammers thieves and deal with terrorists
Does anyone have an actual copy of the fund raising appeal and where it appeared and, most importantly, who wrote it. I cannot say at this time for sure, because I do not know, but it would appear to me that some friend of the Aenks heard about the fire situation, the camp, and the need for donations, and went ahead on his/her own to create the fundraiser notice. Not having actual pictures, he/she used stock photographs to embellish the text. The 501(c)3 had a board of directors, and I overheard Carrie tell someone that she had consulted with and gotten their approval to accept (tax deductible) donations through it for the fire fighting/refugee operation.
The “tent city” did exist, it just didn’t have very many tents in it (two while I was there), but there were certainly enough space for hundreds of people (though from a practical standpoint, what with meal preparation and all, I personally think that about 100 families would be the limit, but I could be wrong). Allen had already partially completed outdoor showers, hooked to a truck with an ibc (I think that’s what it’s called; large square tank) filled with water, and a gasoline pump to pump it to the showers. Cooking was done at their residence, because of the fire hazard, and brought to the site. A generator was supplying electricity. The medical tent doubled and a temporary storage tent for donations until more tents could be set up. If this wee truly a scam, I doubt that that much effort would have been put into the operation.
I have screen shots of it but I don’t know how to post them here. I’ll try to figure it out. It is unclear who wrote the appeal but I would assume lost pet found pet did it. However, they couldn’t have done it without information and pictures supplied by SW. In fact, the appeal had updates directly from Allan. Some of the pictures of the few tents that were on the property were supplied by the Aenks. I don’t know who posted the misleading pictures from other fires but it is clear to me that if the Aenks didn’t write the fundraising appeal they supplied much of the misleading information. I don’t see how it was done without their knowledge.
You didn’t address the fact that local firefighters said they had no knowledge of a “tent city” or official command post on the property.
I
Robert, seems to me you have been fooled as well. Your statement above is not factual. There were some good people from the community they gave a lot of money and items to them. Fact is, there was no tent city, everything that they collected including truckloads of food was not for tent city nor was it given back and furthermore they have been scamming people all of their lives. Sadly, they will continue because people like you stick up for them. All of their aliases , All of the people they have robbed and stall from, the dogs that they have abused and neglected will never forget. The lies of having a daughter. Oh yeah, the daughter that was kidnapped by the FBI. More like a delusional paranoid psychotic person.
A firestorm of lies and collusion against Allen and Carrie Aenk began when a couple of jealous individuals began to spread innuendo and false allegations against the couple.
The snowball of hatred spread against Carrie, an exonerated convicted felon from over 22 years ago, and her husband decided to reach out and help the fire victims in their area by getting them the much needed supplies that nobody else would step up to the plate to do and asking for help from firefighters across the nation.
Gov. Inslee begged for citizen volunteers to come forward and help fight the fires yet when several experienced firefighters from across the nation arrived, they were turned away by DNR. When word got out to the other firefighters due to converge at the ranch that DNR was refusing the much needed help, they decided not to come. It wasn’t worth them coming from all over the states just to be turned away.
Unbeknownst to the Aenks, another entity out of Florida began a you-caring fundraiser, using their contact information. The Aenks never asked anyone for a dime, only for supplies and prayer. The intentions of the entity were pure. Like the Aenks, she was just trying to help.
Instead of investigating facts, KXLY 4 out of Spokane and a few other yellow journalists, ran articles and news stories based solely on innuendo, opinions of others, and their own opinions. No facts, no proof, no evidence. Several of these so called investigative journalists were given the opportunity to sit down with the Aenks and their attorney to see proof of the slanderous accusations of the haters that detest seeing a convicted felon succeed and help others, but these reporters refused the offer and continued with their “report” and their made up version of the “truth”.
The character assassination and slander of the Aenks due to this type of journalism is irreversible. The damage has been done and still continues. The death threats continue and that is okay with these people.
Sadly, more people who enjoy the feeding frenzy of negativity have jumped on the band wagon, voicing their “opinions”, rendering their “thoughts”, and helping to spread even more embellished lies to further feed their hunger of hatred and “expose” the Aenks in the court of public opinion.
Each claim of the so called journalists and the haters is without proof, only conjecture and opinion. Yet, the Aenks have video, photos, emails, chats, and documentation to prove their case. Of course, the “journalists” and haters don’t want to sit down with the Aenks attorney and be shown the truth. They feed on the negativity and the lies.
The legal ramifications will be grave for each entity involved as well as each individual that has been feeding off of and spreading hate and slander.
The court of public opinion is divided. Many people showed up to the ranch and saw first hand what was going on and so they know the facts. A real Court of law will be interested in this. That is not my opinion. It is a fact.
If the fundraising was done and the Aenk’s did not KNOW that the fundraising was being done in their name. THen the only way to PROVE that would be for them to POST their paypal statement showing that no money went into their paypal account that was associated with the fundraiser.
As a non profit they have nothing to hide right? Financials are all a part of transparency on their part and it is something they should WANT to do in order to clear their good name.
If they can not/will not do so, then they are the liars, scammers. thieves, that everyone says they are.
If they do and the money did not go into their account, then the organizer is to blame.
But DO NOT come to me and say they did not know unless Allen and Carrie themselves can SHOW that the money never went to them.
Good one …
Amen they need to show proof but guess what THEY CANNOT!!!!! these two make me sick
Robert since you are being a spokesperson here can you explain why The Examiner Article states that the following ” News of the makeshift campsite has been slow to reach broadcast networks. The Aenks estimate that between 250 and 450 people are now being housed, fed and making the best of it on the property, unsure if they will have homes to return to once the flames have been extinguished. The ‘residents’ are split into two groups, firemen, both local and volunteers from other areas, and civilians.”
250 – 450 people are being Housed & Fed On their Property. On which Date was that?
I don’t think they can provide a date because, in my opinion, there were never that many people on the property. They could stop the controversy by showing pictures of the “250-450” people being housed and fed on their property, but they don’t have them. They did try to pass off a picture showing dozens of tents, but it was taken in California a couple of years ago.
Chief of Stevens County said, “And this morning, Mike Bucy, the Chief for Stevens County Fire District 1, wrote this in the comment section of last Tuesday’s story. (I added the italics and bold text):
Shepherd’s Way claims it is giving dozens of families displaced by the fires a “sanctuary” where they can stay, but this picture on their fundraising plea is of people displaced by a wildfire in California last September. Photo from
Shepherd’s Way claims it is giving dozens of families displaced by the fires a “sanctuary” where they can stay, but this picture on their fundraising plea is of people displaced by a wildfire in California last September. Photo from desertnews.com.
“A majority of these claims were false and the matter was turned over to the Stevens County Sheriff’s office for further investigation. There was never a tent city nor was there ever an “official” command post at this location (very rarely will a post be set up on private property). The command post has always operated from the Fruitland Bible Camp and for ashort while (2 days) there was a secondary site running out of the Springdale Fire Station (our Station 7). The fire did remain far from this location, which has difficult access to it (we had a fire up there last year).”
I don’t know why Examiner.com hasn’t taken the story down. It appears they didn’t vet their information very carefully. Just about everything in the story has been refuted.
Well I can’t explain much for the fire victim scam ..its still under investigation and they had fires to deal with first ..if the add fund site got pulled the next day then obviously they are guilty of fraud ..the Florida site trusted them at their word and pics and info provided to them ..unfortunately I can’t see them ( Florida group just making this up I think they got duped and the dirty scammer horse rescue couple here in springdale its always their word against someone else’s ..they are very slick and greasy at what they do ..you wouldn’t believe how many people get victimised unknowingly or knowingly by these two ..now add domestic terrorists to pile of crap they dish out ..well feds will be watching them a long time now let’s hope
Its still under investigation at this time ..the sherrifs are not done yet ..the feds are not done yet ..we needed animal control on this and unfortunately Stevens county does not so this is sad
The state or county is still investigating as well as sheriff’s and stevens county fire dept..I think shepherds way horse rescue scam operation did deceive Florida site and its the horse scammers word against theirs ..sad and the poor Florida site victim had to refund the money I also believe the shepherds way couple set them up not the other way around
One of the names that came up when I clicked on the article and scrolled to comments was Kathleen Tortu-Bowles. If she is any way involved in this it doesn’t surprise me. She is on many DNA lists. She’s a dog flipper and is responsible for collecting money and then the dog disappears. Her last one, a pit named Nala was rescued and supposed to be transported to PA. She would never show copies of vet bills etc. The dog was actually in boarding. Magically, the day the dog was supposed to be transported someone named Amanda Johnson kidnapped the dog.
Cindy Kisling I suggest you get your facts straight….1. Nala is and never was my dog 2. I never said Max was alive in PA. 3. All that we were told was just that, what we were told 4. All evidence has been submitted to the appropriate authorities regarding Max. 5. Post facts and not lies and half truths!!
Also Lorraine and I were in a group text message and were lied to throughout this ordeal, which is why all of the facts, proof and truth were submitted to the proper authorities….
What “proper authorities” are investigating this?
People warned YOU and others of the clear concern and obvious warning signs about this “rescue” yet Kathleen YOU posted over an over that “trolls” were going to get Max killed and they were trying to stop this brilliant plan of yours. Well Bravo Kathleen you accomplished your goal of raising enough money to get these con artist criminal dog killers who have lied about so much. I sure hope Max wasn’t beaten to death or let loose to fend for himself. Bravo once again you defend, help facilitate dogs going to hell. What is wrong with you? Are you that dense or just have such bad judgement and a lack of abillity to learn? When one sees your name endorsing and plan or fundraiser it’s a crystal clear sign everyone should be very afraid for that dog. Do the dogs a favor and LEAVE them alone. The suffering you help procure over and over again is despicable. Go get some therapy and try to fulfill your voids some other way without playing “hero” Go VOLUNTEER for a reputable rescue and stop putting these lives with any and every loser you “meet” on Facebook.
This is unbelievable! It completely contradicts their friend Robert’s accounts above as so many people already know. Has everyone seen the Examiner article which states ” News of the makeshift campsite has been slow to reach broadcast networks. The Aenks estimate that between 250 and 450 people are now being housed, fed and making the best of it on the property, unsure if they will have homes to return to once the flames have been extinguished. The ‘residents’ are split into two groups, firemen, both local and volunteers from other areas, and civilians.” 250-450 people being housed, fed at the Anek’s property… REALLY?!! Pathetic.
Sheriffs dept. Unfortunately they are the only animal control we have ..in stevens county the sheriffs are in charge of animal control part and colville is supposed to back them we wish..as far as the fire victim scam thing the stevens county fire dept. Forwarded the case to sheriffs or proper authoritys and were still fighting the fires ..I think the legit set up was bible camp somewhere closer to real fires will check somewhere near fruitland
Well I think they are scammers ..the horses were starving ..getting mold hay fit for only a cow only ..no cubes or oats back up feed that I know..sheriff’s out there checking on condition of horses ..ect then the scam hay shipment for sure is all I know
There were times they were getting good donated hay from people donating ..but before there were 2 terrible months and at that time the scam of bilking the hay delivery from ellensburg or where ever the hay was shipped from to the horses
I am sorry but this is unbelievable, how many scams, lies and fraudulent plea for money before people wake up?
Wasn’t Carrie just sentenced for yet another crime yesterday?
Yes, she was convicted of theft. I will put up a post about it by tomorrow morning.
We are so thankfully you tied these two shepherds way horse rescue scammers to the new Jersey thing thank you thank you thank you
Thank you. I hope people will stop sending them dogs.
Yep 5,000.00 on more victims and 3 horses never delivered after they paid for them ..
We successfully adopted one horse through them. Paid for everything to go get him from Pendleton Oregon he was a beautiful Paso Fino. She even used my dad’s truck and trailer and blew the tires. I worked there as a kid. Didn’t really understand what was really going on. Two summers I worked there while in high school and exchange for adopting my horse I never received. I got a call that nobody ever wants to get especially at 16 years old telling me that apparently somebody poisoned my horse he was found dead in the pasture bleeding out of his nose eyes and ears. I had come so close to this horse I didn’t ride for a long time after it happened. This makes me sick they also got my Mom for 3 TON of hay