Animal rescue founder accused of using donations for vacations, shopping sprees

100+ Abandoned Dogs of the Everglades head Amy Roman denies allegations

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. ā€“ The state of Florida is taking aim at a South Florida animal rescue organization claiming its founder used close to $100,000 in donations for vacations and shopping sprees.

The head of that rescue group said she's been wrongly accused and spoke to Local 10 News about the spending.

Amy Roman, the founder of 100+ Abandoned Dogs of the Everglades, said the organization has raised more than $2 million in donations, rescuing more than 3,600 dogs in five years.

She documents the rescues on her Facebook site.

The group claims every cent of every dollar of donations go to rescue animals, but the state wants Roman to pay a $10,000 fine and stop taking in donations.

"I am absolutely innocent," Roman said.

The rescue raises about $700,000 a year to save animals, while Roman only takes home $600 per week as a salary. There are only two paid staff members employed by the 501c3 with more than 100 volunteers.

According to a state audit, there "appears to be 960 transactions totaling $98,758 used for personal use."

"It's nothing but slanderous lies -- attacks personally," Roman said.

That's money allegedly spent at TJ Maxx, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, CVS, Dick's Sporting Goods, Cactus Car Wash and even a vacation to Key West.

"This money was used for dog beds, for blankets, for leashes, for collars, for towels, for sheets, for car washes -- everything that was done incidental to the rescue of dogs," attorney Jeffrey Neiman said.

But what about Best Buy?

"Some of the money that was alleged to be misused was to buy video equipment from Best Buy -- recorders that were used to capture the rescues, which were then put on the Facebook page to promote and show the good work that 100+ has done," Neiman said.

The state began investigating after several complaints came in, some anonymous.

"It's all personal," Roman said. "These are ex-husband, ex-tenant, disgruntled ex-volunteer."

The state also claims Roman used $30,000 from her rescue to buy a BMW sports utility vehicle. She said it was a loan that was paid back and approved by her board of directors.

"We will be able to show dollar for dollar went to the purpose of the charity, which was helping dogs," Neiman said.

Roman said she will fight the fine and penalty and her work will not stop.

"We've complied 100 percent," she said.