Animal Rescue Groups Part Ways After Brownstone Event

A dispute over money from a Real Housewife-hosted fundraiser is injecting acrimony into the dissolution of a partnership between two animal rescue groups.

At the center of the dispute are the proceeds from a May 1 event held at The Brownstone in Paterson and hosted by Real Housewife Caroline Manzo.

The details of the disagreement are not clear, but it's apparently caused bad blood in the wake of the fracturing of a partnership between the national Rescue Ink Foundation and Pack Ethic Rescue, whose 25-acre facility in Upstate New York it uses as a haven for rescued animals.

“I never received money for that event," said Eric Bellows, the head of Pack Ethic.

Bellows said he was planning to use proceeds to fund improvements at his facility, including building more runs in the garage, finishing the basement and improving the yard. Bellows was a member of the Rescue Ink Foundation's board, and said that he thought the organization, made famous by a reality show on the National Geographic Channel, would eventually acquire his organization.

"The Brownstone was my last ditch effort to get things done," Bellows said. "[Rescue Ink was] supposed to absorb Pack Ethic and my work was supposed to be for them. I had hoped they were going to help me expand."

Joe Panz, who leads Rescue Ink, said that all proceeds from the event were distributed and that he had documentation that proved the funds were sent to Pack Ethic. He said Rescue Ink recently decided it would no longer be using the Pack Ethic facility for its rescued animals, a decision that he said was based on cost. 

“Rescue Ink is opening a facility and is no longer using Pack Ethic,” Panz said. “We’ll be using a different facility and it’s much cheaper. What else can I say?”

The Rescue Ink Foundation was dissolved on June 13, though Rescue Ink's work continues. It rescues animals across the country — sometimes even globally — and lobbies for stronger laws against abuse and cruelty. It recently contracted with the community of Long Beach, N.Y., to operate its .

“We want to rescue more animals, save more lives, and make the world a better place,” he said. 

The fundraiser hosted by Caroline Manzo was a Family Italian Night with a raffles, drinks and Italian food. More than 150 people attended.