George Santos allegedly took $3K from GoFundMe raising money for service dog’s surgery
Cami Mondeaux
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Rep. George Santos (R-NY) allegedly took $3,000 from an online fundraiser created to raise money for a disabled veteran’s dying service dog, according to reports.
Navy veteran Richard Osthoff was living inside an abandoned chicken coop alongside Route 9 in Howell, New Jersey, in May 2016 when he discovered that his service dog Sapphire had developed a tumor in her stomach, according to Patch. After taking Sapphire to the vet, Osthoff learned the surgery to remove the tumor would cost $3,000.
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That’s when a veterinary technician told Osthoff there was someone who could help him get the treatment.
“‘I know a guy who runs a pet charity who can help you,'” the technician said, Osthoff recounted to Patch.
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The technician referred Osthoff to someone named Anthony Devolder who ran a pet charity called Friends of Pets United.
Anthony Devolder is one of the names that Santos had used before entering politics in 2020, according to the outlet. Santos helped Osthoff create the GoFundMe page in May 2016, but he soon became hard to contact, according to the veteran.
“I only talked to him two or three times on the phone,” Osthoff told the outlet.
Nearly two months later, after hearing they surpassed $3,00 in donations, Osthoff posted on Facebook that “we made the goal, and then some.” However, Osthoff never received the money.
Instead, Santos allegedy told the veteran that he couldn’t schedule the procedure at the New Jersey office where Osthoff had previously taken his dog and that he would need to bring Sapphire to a clinic in Queens, New York.
Osthoff traveled to the clinic in August 2016, but he was told they couldn’t operate on the tumor. After that, Santos started to go silent, Osthoff said.
Three months later, Osthoff texted Santos for an update, lamenting that he “[felt] like I was mined for my family and friends donations,” according to messages obtained by Patch. The two then had a phone conversation in which Santos told the veteran that the money would be used “for other dogs” because Osthoff “didn’t do things my way,” according to the outlet.
“My dog is going to die because of god knows what,” Osthoff texted Santos on Nov. 13, 2016.
“Remember it is our credibility that got GoFundme […] to contribute. We are audited like every 501c3 and we are with the highest standards of integrity,” Santos replied. “Sapphire is not a candidate for this surgery the funds are moved to the next animal in need and we will make sure we use of resources [sic] to keep her comfortable!”
Shortly after that conversation, Santos dropped communication with Osthoff and the GoFundMe page disappeared from the internet, the veteran said. Osthoff said he tried to contact GoFundMe but didn’t get a response.
“To everyone who helped me and Sapphire raise the money for her surgery, I’m sorry to say that we were scammed by Anthony Devolder,” Osthoff wrote in a Facebook post on Nov. 13, 2016.
Sapphire died on Jan. 15, 2017.
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The revelations come as Santos has faced scrutiny for a number of controversies, including reports that he lied about his educational and work background while running for office. Additionally, the New York Republican is also under investigation for possibly violating campaign finance laws during the 2022 midterm cycle.
Several Democrats, and even a handful of Republicans, have denounced Santos for this conduct and have called on him to resign. Meanwhile, Santos has remained adamant he has not committed any wrongdoing and won’t step down , even indicating he plans to run for reelection come 2024.