Animal Shelter Hoping Phone Company Doesnt Reach Out And Evict Them

Nearly 60 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens are facing eviction, and the shelter they call home is facing closure, due to an overdue Verizon advertising bill.
The phone conglomerate has served American Foundation for Animal Rescue, Inc. in Rego Park a Marshals notice for closure within 12 days, alleging that the animal haven owes them more than $17,000.
"Theres no question that we owe them money," said Robert DeFranco, founder of the not-for-profit. "But we need Verizon to take a look at whats going on and give us a hand."
The problem arose nearly two years ago, when the no-kill shelter, which had been advertising in the Verizon yellow pages for more than nine years, signed a contract for a one-fourth page advertisement, which would be binding for a full year.
Once they realized they would have financial difficulty meeting that stipulation, the Foundation says they contacted Verizon in order to work out a payment plan, but were refused assistance.
Verizon told The Queens Courier on Tuesday that the issue had been handed over to an attorney.
"Verizon salespeople oversold us advertising years ago," said Jill Morgenstern, executive director. "For that we are at fault. However, they refused to forgive any of the monies or even to negotiate a payout plan that we could afford. The collection companies were horrible, and now the City Marshals representative told us they will auction off our animals."
What makes the situation even worse, according to Morgenstern, is that they were given no notice prior to being served with the eviction papers. In fact, even that was not done according to protocol, as no rescue center executive was served.
What DeFranco and Morgenstern are hoping for is to work out a payment plan with Verizon so that the shelter can continue its mission of rescuing, training and placing animals, while paying off their debt.
"We operate and live day-to-day," said Morgenstern. "If Verizon forces us to close our community animal shelter and the City Marshal sells off our cages, medical supplies, telephones and two computers, over 50 homeless animals will be put to death and our shelter closed forever. How can a multi-billion dollar company like Verizon be so cruel to a community animal shelter?"
E-mail reporter Tonia Cimino at rbellastella@aol.com