Mediation With KittyKind

After many letters and phone calls to KittyKind to try to resolve my lack of reimbursement for 2004 monies, I finally arranged a mediation with the Mayor's Alliance. A totally objective Court Mediator would have been the correct thing to do - I realize that in retrospect.

Summary of Meeting with Jane Hoffman of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC Animals and Hilary Harris of KittyKind on July 25, 2006

I provided Jane Hoffman and Hilary Harris with a copy of topics that I wanted to cover at the meeting and an itemized list of money which I spent in 2004 – 2006 on KittyKind cats

Remaining KK cats

*Monsi –Very Shy
· Sapphire- sick, died of FIP before trial reached its end
· Princess Pumpkin – adopted out 4 times and returned
· Simone – Feral, adopted out as shy and returned
· Tiger – Special Needs Cat: One Kidney and compromised bladder

Marlene
· Why is your caller ID listed as Marlene Kess. Is she still part of KK
· Marlene currently owes me $3,000 (personal loan)
· Fostering with no follow up
· My apartment as a free sanctuary
· My attempt to return all cats in 2004 – accused of being hateful

Hilary Agreements. (Verbal prior to meeting)
· To pay Spoiled Brats $300 monthly food
· Current bill at AMC
· Info for VERG emergency vet care
· Reimbursement for current bills to my vet

Clarify knowledge of past foster care and medical activities

Clear up phone controversy, I was accused of not talking to Hilary at times and of not leaving messages

Month of June
· No food, litter, special diet, medical emergencies, medication
· Clarify accusations made that "Josie has been abandoning cats at the store"
· Barbara getting regular reimbursements despite not having receipts for her house cleaning.
· Dawn gets regular adoption fees & cages
· Mary gets regular adoption fees & cages
· How have you been reimbursing rescuers who got MK cats out of NJ Humane Society
· How does Gabriel get reimbursed for Meds she buys for KittyKind?

Some of these topics were merely clarified by telling Hilary and she either did not say anything or said she understood but did not elaborate.

The majority of the meeting was presided over by Jane Hoffman while Hilary toke notes or kept insisting that

1. She had never authorized me to take Tiger to the AMC
2. She was available for calls and that I had never called her
3. She had never agreed to reimburse me for current bills to my vet (she had verbally agreed to do so just prior to the meeting)

Jane Hoffman offered to let me bring a kitten/cat that Dawn Borst had left in my foster care to VERG as a one time service for testing and treatment of parasites. I accepted the offer since as a KittyKind Representative Dawn turned her over to me in a sickly state.
When I presented my bills I was asked what portion I wanted reimbursed. I originally stated that 1/3 of the entire amount for 2004-2006 would settle things. Jane Hoffman said that bills for 2004 were out of the question. I told her that 2004 was the year that I had paid the highest amount for care of KittyKind cats.

Note: That was also the main reason why we were in mediation. this was supposed to be promised reimbursement for 2004.

She told Hilary to agree to pay the AMC bill and to pay $400 a month in Catfood and Litter to a total of $5,200 dollars. Hilary Harris continued to say that KittyKind "just did not have the money". Hilary said they could not pay me by check because I did not have a checking account. I told her I could open an account. She restated that KittyKind "just did not have the money".
There was some discussion about gossip and how the original information was twisted and how the gossip got started to begin with.

At one point Jane Hoffman said that what was discussed at the meeting was to stay between the three of us. Hilary Harris said that she had to tell Kathleen Goward and Cathy Cristel. Jane Hoffman asked why and Hilary Harris stated that they would want to know about the arrangement for the monthly food and litter delivery to me. Ms. Hoffman asked "Who pays the bills?" Ms. Harris said "I do", when asked "who handles the checkbook" Ms. Harris said "I do". Ms. Hoffman said "well, they really don't need to know".

I left the meeting somewhat confused as to why Jane Hoffman said (without consulting with Hilary) that the bills for 2004 were out of the question. Further correspondence after the meeting regarding my dissatisfaction over the decision not to reimburse me for 2004 were responded to by Jane Hoffman.

At this meeting I was made aware of who put up the money for Marlene Kess' bail, $14,000. No, I was quickly informed, there was no conflict of interest - it was a personal loan.
Also, I didn't know that Board Members could be replaced by someone not on KittyKind's Board. How does this work? Did I misunderstand or mis-hear?