The Charity Commission has opened an investigation into the financial management of an animal charity, after concerns were raised over its animal welfare standards.
The Capricorn Animal Rescue and Sanctuary was the subject of media and parliamentary interest in 2016 as complaints were made by the public that animals in the charity’s care were kept in poor conditions, with former volunteers also telling the BBC that alcohol had been bought with the charity’s money.
The charity takes animals into care that have no homes, are injured or neglected, and aims to rehouse the animals or release them back into the wild once they are fully recovered and treated.
The commission initially provided regulatory advice and guidance to the trustees on how to improve the charity’s governance. It monitored its compliance with the guidance and visited the charity in October 2016, subsequently inspecting the charity’s books and records.
Ongoing issues
Throughout the commission’s engagement, it established that there were “clear and on-going serious regulatory issues relating to the administration of the charity by the trustees”.
These included inadequate financial controls, failure to safeguard and properly account for the charity’s assets, potential unauthorised trustee benefit and the trustees’ failure to act on regulatory advice.
The commission will be looking into the governance of Capricorn Animal Rescue and Sanctuary, and whether there has been any unauthorised benefit to the trustees of the charity. It will also assess whether trustees acted correctly in their duty to account for the charity’s funds.
The regulator said that although it is aware that the charity has been the subject of concerns from members of the public relating to the welfare of animals in the charity’s care, this does not fall within the Charity Commission’s remit. It said concerns on this matter should be directed to the RSPCA.
BBC documentary
The charity appeared in BBC Wales’ Week Out programme in December 2016, where an undercover volunteer found dirty conditions, overcrowding and some animals having no access to water.
Founder Sheila Stewart told the BBC that items, such as alcohol, had been bought fraudulently.
She told BBC Wales: "A fraudulent account was registered with Makro using the charity's name to purchase unsuitable items. This is from 2014 until 2015.
"The charity's bank's fraud department has this on file. It is being investigated. Makro are aware of this and are helping us find who has perpetrated this fraud."
The charity has been contacted for comment.
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