‘Go Fund Me’ Campaign Aimed To Retrieve Service Dog Allegedly Botched By USPS

(CBS Seattle) – A Seattle woman says the United States Postal Service botched a “Go Fund Me” campaign to retrieve her therapy dog.

Joanna Hewitt’s fundraiser simply titled “Find Radar” was launched a few weeks after her small dog (Radar) vanished from her North Queen Anne apartment on September 25. The campaign was setup to provide Hewitt with enough funds to efficiently utilize USPS’ Every Door Direct Mail service, which allows a user to map out a target area, use demographic data and specify mail routes and delivery times of an item. In Hewitt’s case, the item was a postcard with Radar’s picture and her contact information.

The fundraiser was a success and Hewitt was able to raise $930 — an amount that covered the cost of the maximum 5,000 pieces of mail she was allowed to distribute.

“I bought every route I could before USPS cut me off,” Hewitt says.

Despite receiving an email confirmation that her order was processed, none of the follow-up procedures were made available, according to Hewitt. Several customer service calls and a visit to two different local branches did not produce any answers nor did the efforts result in forward progress.

“No one is taking responsibility and no one will help me,” Hewitt says. “I just want to get these postcards into every home and get my pup back.”

Ernie Swanson, a USPS spokesperson for services in the Washington area told CBS Seattle he was unaware of this incident.

Hewitt says she filed a claim with her bank and it is currently in the process of reviewing the transaction.

“I should have the money back in a couple of days,” she says. “But I still don’t have any answers, or most importantly, my dog.”

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