Have some questions about online pledging? Let’s break it down.
In which Jill explains the ins and outs and basic etiquette of online pledging—so you can decide for yourself.
If you follow shelter animals online, you’ve seen them: commitments to donate money for a shelter animal if it is rescued. The hope is that pledging funds will alleviate the inevitable expenses involved in saving the animal (usually a dog), incenting would-be rescuers to act.
What is a pledge? It’s an implicit promise to pay a rescuer once the dog has been freed from a shelter.
In recent years, online pledging has become controversial for two reasons:
Many pledgers don’t end up honoring their pledges once the animal is safely out of the shelter. Some forget, while others toss it up to making an emotional decision in the heat of the moment. In my experience, the funds actually collected range from 10-40% of the total money pledged.
Disreputable rescues target high-pledge animals. Some then pocket the funds and fling the dog into a cheap boarding facility, guaranteeing themselves a tidy profit and the dog an uncertain future. It’s insidious, and it happens more often than you’d think.
I’ll say here that our rescue, Outta the Cage, does not solicit pledges.
In our experience, funds collected don’t cover the administrative effort and tracking—time that could be spent helping more dogs leave shelters. Occasionally, a compassionate soul might collect pledges on our behalf, and even badger non-payers publicly until they pay up. We gratefully accept donations on PayPal or on our website for the dogs we save.
Some FAQs (frequently asked questions)
I often get questions about pledging. Here are a few with my answers:
How do I ensure that the rescue who saves the dog is legit?
The short answer is: Do your research. Does the rescue maintain an up-to-date website that explains its mission and its brand? Is there an active social media account that showcases their work? Is their activity recent: have they saved animals within the last few months? Have they helped dogs who don’t have pledges? Most importantly, do they post updates on the animals they rescue?
Can I reserve the right NOT to pledge if it turns out I’m not sure about the rescuer?
Pledging for an animal and then not honoring the pledge is UNCOOL. However, you can ethically refuse to pledge if, for any reason, you are uncomfortable with the rescue that pulls the animal. First, make sure that in your pledge post you add a caveat. For example: “I pledge $25.00 to a 501(c)3 non-profit that posts freedom pics” specifies two contingencies for your pledge. You can also designate a trusted third party to help qualify your pledge. For instance, “I pledge $50.00 to a rescue that Greta Thunberg approves of.” Irresponsible rescuers tend to avoid qualified pledges like these.
Are pledges only for rescue organizations, or do they apply to individuals?
Often, well-meaning adopters will post that they are willing to save a dog, but could use money for vet care or other costs. Again, qualifying a pledge with “…or a private adopter who shares the adoption receipt or vet bill…” can ensure accountability. Better still, you can support an honest adopter by paying their veterinarian or trainer directly or emailing them a gift card for supplies.
Do I wait for someone to request my pledge, or do I just pay it?
The best rescues tend to be the busiest. Pledge collection involves tracking pledgers across social media platforms, reminding them of their pledge amounts and the animals they pledged for, instructing them how to honor their pledges, and registering who pays. It’s time-consuming. If a trusted rescue has posted freedom pictures, shared its plan for the dog, and specified pledge instructions, it’s easier for everyone if you honor your pledge proactively.
Can I write my pledge off my taxes?
If you have pledged to a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (request their EIN number), you should be able to write off your pledge. Some rescues will email you an acknowledgement specifying your pledge amount. For instance, for donations made via our website, Outta the Cage automatically generates an email receipt. Such acknowledgements aren’t usually automatic, so plan on requesting a receipt.
If you have questions about whether a rescue is a bona fide 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tools like ProPublica’s Nonprofit Explorer can help.
What if can’t afford to pledge, but I’d like to help?
If you can’t donate money, the best way to help is by sharing the dog online AFTER it’s been rescued. Most people forget about a dog once it leaves the shelter. But for solid rescues, the work is just beginning! We CHERISH friends who share post-rescue photos, videos, and progress updates with friends. It helps us meet the ultimate objective of finding shelter dogs forever homes.
And then we can do the happy dance—and go save another!
