Things4yourdog .com. Juggernaut2006@earthlink.net. Tanya Story Dogs, a charity in Australia, paid things4yourdog $4150.00 for 100 dog vests. The vests were never received Lewes Delaware

Story Dogs is an Australian charity providing free reading support to over 330 children a week. This not for profict group uses trained accredited dogs, with their handlers, who go to school campuses and listen as the struggling readers "read to the dogs."  it works - it really does - childrens' reading levels increase and their confidence soars!

The companion dogs, as well as their handlers, wear bright orange clothing in order for children and school officials to quickly identify them when they are on campus.  Last year, replacement orange dog vests were needed and the group, after extensive research, contracted Tanya Smith of Lewes, Delaware, to make 40 vests.

Supportive documents show that on Sept. 26, 2013 an agreement was made for 100 Story Dogs vests to be made by Tanya with a finish date of end of January 2014.

On Nov. 14th it was agreed that Story Dogs would pay Ms. Smith $4150.00  This amount would cover all costs as well as shipping.

Ms. Smith requested the money be paid up front as she would need to purchase materials. A one time payment was made by co-founder Janine Sigley, using her personsal credit card, through Paypal of $4150.00 on November 21, 2013.

Five months have passed and not one single vest has been received by Story Dogs!!!

Numerous emails were exchanged between Tanya and Janine Sigley throughout the 5 months......numerous excuses were given by Tanya as to why the vests hadn't been completed.  Then, on February 20, 2014, 5 months after the agreemnt was made, all communications with Tanya ended and she no longer would return emails or phone calls.

The following are actions that Story Dog has taken to rectify the ripoff:

1. Paypal was contacted and asked to act on their behalf. Paypal will not take on the dispute as they have a 45 day dispute window.  

2.  Econsumer.gov, a site for cross-border consumer complaints, has been contacted but they simply lodge the complaint into a data base.

3. An Australian solicitor has written a letter to Ms. Smith requesting reimbursement. No reply was made.

4.  Janine has aked her bank, who issued the credit card that she used for the transaction, to pursue the debt.  Their policy is 120 day limit on disputes.

Again, Story Dogs is a charity.  It operates solely on the goodness of volunteers' giving their time to work with children who are struggling to read. There is no great cache of funds, it is completely supported by individual sponsorship. The amount of $4000 is huge for them!

Please, can you give some help?