Foster dog parents reportedly accused Rescue Gang, a Wisconsin animal foster organization, of falsely telling them their dogs were taken to a “sanctuary” when they were euthanized.

Samantha Stanfield and Sarah DeSmidt, who fostered two dogs named Bill and Marita, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel they received updates about the dogs’ time at the “sanctuary.” However, the dogs were allegedly euthanized, an act sources claim is part of a more general pattern.

“I’m not five. I know dogs don’t go to farms for happily ever after lives, but I really thought Jennifer was advocating for these dogs,” DeSmidt told CBS 58. “[Rescue Gang Director] Jennifer [Troppmann] messaged me that Bill and Marita were both going up to this sanctuary.”

“I will admit I was suspicious, but I wanted to trust the director,” she continued.

Jasmin Elhindi, another foster, recalled speaking to other volunteers. “We had a chat among all the fosters, and I just posted in there, ‘What happened to Bill and Marita? Were they euthanized? I think we deserve some answers,’” she told CBS 58. “We uncovered that there was never another rescue, they were never sent anywhere else, they were literally driven across the street to MADACC to be euthanized that day.”

Troppmann claimed that the decision to euthanize the dogs was made collectively by herself, the board, and leadership based on behavior concerns. “I reached out to a sanctuary that one of the rescues suggested. Ultimately, they said they did not have any room or space for dogs; they were only accepting small breed or senior dogs at that time,” Troppmann explained.

Rescue Gang allegedly told the fosters that the dogs were not euthanized for some time. “I couldn’t fathom dealing with the blowback and negativity,” she confessed, claiming that she reluctantly decided to back the organization’s story.

There have been nine complaints to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection about the organization since 2017, according to records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The complaints range from authorities claiming incomplete veterinary documents to allegations of financial misconduct.