Our Spaces
our spaces are curated, positive spaces.
We host a community of 30,000 people who come to our spaces for respectful, constructive, and thoughtful conversation often around sensitive, emotional, or difficult topics. The way we speak to one another matters.
We actively protect this environment so people can participate without fear of hostility, harassment, or emotional pressure.
Non-Negotiable Rules
Zero tolerance for personal attacks or humiliation
No name-calling, insults, derogatory labels, mocking, sarcastic humiliation, belittling, or targeted personal disrespect toward anyone.
This applies to community members, the account owner, volunteers, public figures, journalists, or groups of people.
Zero tolerance for racism or identity-based abuse
Any attack, insult, or demeaning language based on race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, or perceived background is strictly prohibited.
This includes:
- stereotypes
- slurs or coded language
- “jokes” targeting identity
- intelligence-based insults tied to nationality or ethnicity
Disagreement never justifies racism.
No targeted harassment or bad-faith behaviour
This includes (but is not limited to):
- repeatedly targeting or goading an individual
- baiting, sealioning, or deliberate derailing
- continuing to engage after someone has asked you to stop
Patterns of behaviour matter. Harm does not need to be loud to be real.
No hijacking posts or agenda-pushing
Comment sections are not a space to repeatedly redirect conversations, demand action on unrelated issues, or pressure the team or volunteers across multiple posts.
If an issue is unrelated to the post, has already been addressed, has been redirected to another channel or updates are not available, continuing to raise it repeatedly may be treated as boundary-violating or bad-faith behaviour.
Our volunteers are not a customer service desk and must not be pressured, guilted, or repeatedly challenged in public comment threads.
Off-Topic & Repeated Messaging
To keep fundraising posts clear and effective for animal care:
- Comments that repeatedly post the same message across multiple posts may be moderated
- Coordinated tagging of others to redirect or overwhelm a discussion may be limited
- Discussions that move a post away from its stated purpose (e.g. a specific donation request) may be redirected or removed
- Supporters are welcome to discuss broader welfare topics, but not in ways that disrupt appeals for immediate care
- Our directors can be contacted at help@dogdeskanimalaction.com to request a discussion. Requests will be considered and, where availability permits, a suitable appointment time will be offered.
Our priority is ensuring animals receive timely support. Moderation decisions are made with that in mind.
Donation Claims & Payment Verification
To maintain transparency and prevent confusion:
- Only donations confirmed by the fundraising platform or payment processor are recognised as received
- Claims of payment that do not appear in platform records may be moderated to avoid misleading information
- Queries about transactions must be directed by the donor to the payment provider (e.g. GoFundMe, PayPal, stripe, bank)
- We are unable to verify, trace or investigate payments on behalf of individuals
We appreciate all genuine support and thank donors for helping us keep fundraising clear and accurate for the animals.
Comments must add value
Low-effort hostility, pure negativity, off-topic pile-ons, repeated antagonistic posting, or persistent demands without relevance to the post are not welcome here.
We Welcome Debate Not Combat
Respectful disagreement is part of healthy conversation and can lead to positive change.
What we do not allow is debate used as a cover for hostility, point-scoring, harassment, or repeated bad-faith engagement. This space is not a boxing ring.
Challenging ideas is welcome. Attacking people is not.
No coercive or shaming behaviour
Challenging ideas does not include attempting to control our priorities, topics, or focus through hostility, guilt, or public shaming.
Disagreeing respectfully is welcome. Pressuring the team or volunteers, disparaging our work because a topic does not align with a personal agenda, or reacting with hostility when attention is not centred on a preferred issue is not acceptable.
False Claims About Organisational Legitimacy
Information about Dog Desk Animal Action’s registration and status is available through publicly accessible records.
We do not provide internal documents, personal data, or non-public information in response to comments or demands on social media. Requests for information that is not publicly available including volunteer details, internal processes, or personal data will not be engaged with.
However, accusations that Dog Desk Animal Action is not a legitimate organisation including claims that we are a “scam,” “fake” operating unlawfully, or misleading the public are serious allegations.
Such claims are not treated as discussion or debate.
Making or repeating allegations of illegitimacy without credible evidence, presenting speculation or opinion as fact, or encouraging distrust through insinuation is not acceptable.
Enforcement
- Content making unfounded or unsubstantiated claims about organisational legitimacy will be removed without notice
- Accounts making such claims will be blocked immediately
- This applies regardless of intent, tone, or claimed motivation
Where allegations are repeated elsewhere, escalated, or cause reputational harm, the matter may be referred to the organisation’s legal representatives.
This policy exists to protect our volunteers, supporters, and the animals we exist to help.
Unfounded Accusations of Harm or Cruelty
Rescue and veterinary work often involves temporary measures that may be unfamiliar to the public, particularly in emergency, transport, or medical contexts.
Public accusations of cruelty, abuse, or harm without evidence or without first seeking to understand context are not acceptable in this space.
One-line accusations, insinuations, or inflammatory claims that misrepresent lifesaving work particularly where no question is asked and no effort is made to understand will be treated as bad-faith behaviour.
Enforcement
- Such comments will be removed without notice
- Accounts making these accusations will be blocked immediately
This policy exists to protect volunteers, animals, and public trust in rescue work.
Moderation & Boundaries
Social media platforms are privately operated spaces, not public free-speech forums. Participation here is conditional on respectful conduct and compliance with our community standards.
This is not a public forum or a free-speech platform.
We decide, in good faith, what belongs in this space and remove accounts that damage the atmosphere of kindness, safety, and constructive discussion we are intentionally maintaining.
Enforcement (No Exceptions)
- Personal insults, racist or identity-based abuse, targeted attacks, humiliating language, or harassment → immediate block (no warning)
- Repeated boundary violations, agenda-pushing, bad-faith patterns, or emotionally draining behaviour → removal, even if no single comment is extreme
- Mild first-time issues → may receive a hidden reply or warning (not guaranteed)
- We do not debate moderation decisions in public replies
- Appeals are considered only via calm, concise email, decisions remain final
Bottom Line
We will quickly and quietly remove accounts that insult others, harass members, pressure volunteers, or persistently lower the tone of this space.
We do this so the large majority of people here can feel safe, respected, and able to participate without constant negativity or emotional labour.
If these rules feel too strict, this may not be the right space for you.
If you can be kind, respectful, and constructive welcome, and thank you for helping protect the atmosphere we all value.