An animal rescue charity says it is the victim of a “cyber troll smear campaign” after a watchdog received multiple complaints about its conduct.
Canine Campus Pet Rescue and Foodbank will answer to the Scottish charity regulator over a string of allegations - including claims it invited a flood of rehoming requests to a premium rate number for a pup after it had been handed to a new owner.
One complainer handed over a dossier to the regulators claiming “misled” animal lovers racked up eye-watering phone bills trying to adopt a tiny bulldog that was already theirs.
But the South Lanarkshire charity branded the claims “false news”, saying “trolls” are intent on destroying its reputation.
We told last year how Canine Campus was embroiled in a row with the owner of French bulldog Koko - who is at the centre of the ongoing dispute.
Desperate owner Jamie Comaskey sought help from the Rutherglen charity when the pet fell ill just days after being bought from a breeder for £2,200.
Charity founder KellyAnn Stevenson stepped in and fundraised for life-saving treatment but requested the animal be surrendered to the rescue during the process.
Jamie was then told Koko would not be returned because he could not afford her ongoing care - which KellyAnn claimed could cost up to £10,000.
Koko was renamed Teeny and an appeal was launched within days to find her a “forever” home - inviting applications to a new premium rate phone line.
But a couple who had previously adopted from the charity has now claimed that Koko had already been permanently rehomed.
They said: “Koko was gifted to us from the charity. There was no paperwork so she was never legally adopted or fostered, she was literally handed to us.
“We agreed we would keep her and took pictures and videos on our phones.
“We got her the week before the charity set up the new number and didn’t know about the appeal until months later.
“There were 30,000 on the charity page and hundreds replied to just one post about Koko.
“We feel these people were misled when the puppy was being cared for by us.”
The family were served with notice to return the dog this summer but sought legal advice and still have her in their care.
They said Koko’s original owner is being updated on her progress and the healthy pup has not needed any further treatment since moving to their new vet.
Details have been sent to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), including complaints from callers.
One post said on Facebook: “I am by no means putting you guys down but I simply can’t afford to blow £20 a day and still not get the opportunity to speak to someone directly.”
Another said: “I have been charged £16.48 on top of my bill and I didn’t even get to speak to anyone.”
The line was later closed and a Facebook group attacking the charity has gathered more than 500 members.
KellyAnn told the Record: “It’s a cyber-trolling smear campaign.
“If you get a load of malicious complaints, (the charity regulator) will come and ask us questions which we’re legally obligated to answer.
“We’ve been told we’re not under investigation.
“The information is from people who have been cyber-trolling us in connection with Teeny.
“The premium line was put in place because the charity was struggling with donations. It’s not illegal or against charity policies.
“We’ve got a lot of dogs in long-term kennels which would unfortunately be put to sleep should we not be able to finance them.
“This dog has not been adopted. She was fostered. We were looking for a forever stay foster.
“We have registered her chip as stolen.
“There is no concern about the way the charity is running.”
An OSCR spokesman said: “We have received a range of information relating to Canine Campus from a variety of sources, including the charity itself.
“We have contacted the charity to help us understand more about their operations and governance and will consider their response along with the other information we have in determining the appropriate way forward.”
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