WHAT WE SEE IN THE NUMBERS

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Let’s start with the basics: IRS Form 990 is the annual tax return most nonprofit organizations are required to file. These documents are public and outline a nonprofit’s revenue, expenses, staff compensation, and board structure. 

 

The most recent filing available is from the tax year 2023, which was filed in November 2024. 

 

The documents posted here are the public filings. Everything else on this page is our opinion, based on those filings, public records, and firsthand observations. We’re not auditors. But we are paying attention.

 

What Stood Out:

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From 2018 through 2020, Ruff House Rescue reported seven-figure revenues, peaking at $1,248,556 in 2019.

 

Then came 2021—a turning point.

 

That year, longtime volunteers walked away. Public scrutiny increased. And although the new board appears on the 2020 return, it wasn’t filed until November 2021, long after the fiscal year ended. So when did the new leadership actually step in? The timeline is murky.

 

Executive Director Diane Indelicato’s reported salary dropped from $44,535 in 2019 to $21,660 in 2020, then down to zero in 2021. On the surface, it might look like self-sacrifice. But context matters. The organization’s operations appear to have lacked consistent oversight. We find it difficult to take those numbers at face value.

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Here’s what we know:

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In 2022, Diane’s reported compensation jumped to $107,852. In 2023, it rose again—to $114,100.

 

Now here’s the kicker: In 2023, Ruff House Rescue reported just $226,311 in revenue. But expenses totaled $623,173—nearly three times what it brought in. That left the organization with a net loss of $396,862.

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Yet even while operating deep in the red, Diane took home the highest salary in the organization’s history. 

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Her compensation alone accounted for more than half of Ruff House Rescue’s total reported revenue that year.

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For comparison, in 2021 the rescue brought in nearly $900,000—and Diane reported no salary at all.

 

The reported revenue decline may actually understate the real downturn. Earlier filings may have reflected incomplete accounting, as operations were heavily cash-based—even before COVID—and cash is notoriously difficult to track or audit.

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One more thing worth noting: In March 2023, a new mortgage was filed on Diane’s personal home, according to public records (which you can search yourself using the tool at the top of their website). Why would someone need to take out a mortgage right after they received a six-figure raise?

 

You're welcome to review the documents and decide for yourself.

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ABOUT THAT BOARD...

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The current board certainly has plenty to answer for—but this section is about what came before them. We’ve taken a close look at the board listings in IRS filings—and once again, what’s on paper doesn’t always match what people on the ground remember.

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One name stood out: Dave Pastor. He wasn’t just listed—he was the treasurer.

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Here’s the issue: no one seems to know who he is.

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No volunteers we spoke with recall working with him. No public records, no photos, no active social media posts. Nothing we can find.

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The only “David” we’ve seen tied to the organization is David Howery (see Properties). We’re not saying they’re the same person. We’re saying it raises real questions.

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When they list someone as a treasurer—someone responsible for financial stewardship—it’s fair to expect that person to actually exist in some verifiable way.

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This isn’t a technicality. For a nonprofit that receives tax-exempt status and accepts public donations, basic accountability isn’t optional—it’s the price of admission. And when the paperwork doesn’t add up, the public has every right to demand answers. 

 

Again, this is our opinion—based on records, filings, and conversations.

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AND NOTICE THE GRANTS…

 

There’s one more shift worth noting.

 

From 2018 through 2021, the rescue received large gifts and grants—labeled “awards” in the IRS filings. These weren’t token donations. They were major contributions, including significant support from PetSmart Charities.

 

But between 2021 and 2023, those donors disappeared. As concerns about the organization grew, the big checks stopped coming.

 

That matters. Institutional funders don’t walk away without reason. Their support is often tied to trust, accountability, and measurable impact. When they pull funding, it’s not just a financial loss—it’s a reputational one.

 

IN CONCLUSION…

 

Taken together, the financial red flags, questionable board listings, and the disappearance of major donors paint a troubling picture. You can connect the dots however you’d like. We just think it’s worth looking at.

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