Pet hate: Stoke Newington animal rescue boss denies misusing donations

Unleashed: the feud has gripped Hackney cat owners. Photograph: Walter Powers

The owner of an animal rescue service in Stoke Newington has hit back at claims she is misusing donations to pay for the upkeep of her own pet cats.

Stokey Cats and Dogs boss Elzbieta Gontarska has been accused by Remi Makinde, who runs the London Cat Sitting Company, of going “off the rails” when asked to reveal details about the rescue service’s income.

Gontarska invites donations through a closed Facebook group using PayPal, and also via a GoFundMe page.

Makinde, who used to donate to Gontarska but has now been banned from the group, said: “Elzbieta has slandered me ever since I asked her to provide a statement showing the PayPal donations sent to Stokey Cats and Dogs.

“She went off the rails, blocked me from her group, and accused me of never contributing to the charity. But I have never shilled a customer like she has.”

The outspoken Makinde, who is also in charge of news website Hackney Hive, claims the spat erupted after Gontarska posted a picture of a dead cat on social media, provoking an angry response from members of the Facebook group.

Stokey Cats and Dogs is not a registered charity, which means it is not legally obliged to provide financial information, or even spend donations on what customers expect them to be spent on, but Makinde says if her claims of Gontarska misusing funds are true, the behaviour is “absolutely, morally wrong”.

In an expletive-laden Facebook post, Makinde wrote: “Elzbieta Gontarska is still harking on about what a terrible person I am, but will not show a statement from PayPal, which is how most people donate to her, not GoFundMe.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if this year alone she has had at least £15,000, if not more, donated via PayPal. Like I said, you cunts that bad-talk me and think she’s a saint deserve to be burgled and fleeced of everything you have, fools.

“She states I am asking to be thanked for donations. I have never asked to be thanked. She chose to tell people I never donated and has since removed that comment after I chose to show proof of how many times I have donated.”

In a challenge to Gontarska, Makinde tweeted: “All Elzbieta @StokeyCatsnDogs has to do is show donations coming in. If my allegations are unfounded, I’ll do one of the following: eat a packet of cat food, or donate £50 to Celia Hammond.”

A poll showed 70 per cent were in favour of the donation, with Makinde adding: “At least I won’t have to eat cat food.”

Gontarska has not responded to the Hackney Citizen’s requests for comment, but hit back at Makinde’s claims on Facebook. She wrote: “The GoFundMe page for Stokey Cats and Dogs was opened 22 months ago. In 22 months, the total money raised is £1,380. Please remember that GoFundMe keeps a percentage for themselves, so not the full £1,380 has been transferred to us.

“As you may remember, the other day I posted a vet’s bill which was £1,601.04 and was paid in full. The GoFundMe page would not cover the bill alone. Calling me a fraud is rather out of touch.

“The money raised in this group is for the strays – not for my own cats. This is the last time I will explain anything about the money coming and going through this group. I wish other rescues were questioned in the same way – not just us.

“Remi Makinde has been thanked for helping us financially while she was doing so, but it seems she wants to be thanked for donating money for the rest of my days as if there was nothing else to do.”

Makinde alleges that Gontarska has since turned down offers from Stokey Cats and Dogs members, including a “qualified accountant”, to help her provide a monthly breakdown for free. She added: “I’m calling on people to keep giving their money to good causes, but they should avoid donating to Elzbieta Gontarska at all costs.”

This article was amended at 11:30am on Tuesday 18 April 2017. The original article stated Elzbieta Gontarska runs an animal rescue home, whereas in fact she runs an animal rescue service. – Ed.

Clarification: The Hackney Citizen reiterates that Remi Makinde has provided no evidence to support her allegations regarding Elzbieta Gontarska and Stokey Cats and Dogs.

83 Comments

  1. Ruby Tuesday on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 18:52

    I don’t know about all that my I did have to leave the Facebook group as it seemed to be a bunch of mad cat ladies constantly arguing amongst themselves! Shame!



  2. alicatmizon on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 20:15

    Refusing the help and ignoring the advice of others is strange. And not reporting supposed bullying, slander, etc etc after being told loads of times is also odd. Whilst the Gofund Me amount is known, the amount of donations received via the private PayPal account is what should be looked in to. I’m sure if it became apparent that donations are indeed not being used for the right reasons, a lot of the followers would be absolutely fuming! If that was my name, my group, my reputation etc being put on the line, I’d do everything I could to prove to my followers that it’s all false accusations.

    Whilst I love the group, I love seeing the happy ever afters and have often seeked advice from other cat owners, it can be overwhelming at times. One comment that slightly disagrees with a member gets you an entire backlash of almost all followers.

    It’s such a shame as this is a great cause and they have done some amazing work. But the doubt is very much in my mind now and it’s not just based on rumours or possibilities. It’s mostly based on the reaction of Elzbieta, the defensive, the constant deleting of comments and posts which don’t go in her favour, refusing free help from those of us offering to volunteer our time in an effort to prove all is in order… The list goes on!



  3. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 20:39

    Until my allegations can be proven wrong, it’s best to donate directly to which ever vets, Stokey Cats and Dogs use. That is what I have done. Gontarska has fine tuned her art of pulling at heart strings. I know this, because when people have contacted her to adopt specific cats, she’ll tell them they have been adopted, only for their photos to appear in another pleading post.

    Such a shame, because I believe her intentions were sincere in the beginning, but greed took over.

    BTW Max, I didn’t say I suspect her spending it on her own cats, who knows what she spends it on.



  4. mike on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 20:47

    Stokey Cats and Dogs was the ONLY rescue who pulled there finger out when i needed help. my local stray cat needed urgent veterinary help and at the time i didn’t have the funds to pay for his treatment and was about to be evicted from my property. Elzbieta putting the pets well being first and foremost got him the help he needed now he’s doing great I CANT PRAISE THEM ENOUGH they are truly amazing genuine bunch of people you can’t put a price on that for what they are doing SIMPLE



  5. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 21:42

    “Mike”, unfortunately Gontarska surrounds herself with a bunch of sycophant, needy, crazy cat ladies. Feel free to mention the cat and when. Thing about anonymous comments is, you could be anyone.



  6. Hackney resident on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:28

    I am really surprised with Hackney citizen publishing this? Remi is a well known troll and all this does is feed her ego…



  7. Hackney resident on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:35

    How many fake twitter and fake Facebook accounts have you got Remi?? And you talk about anonymous comments!!



  8. Cat friend on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:37

    Remi is an ex con with charges of pet abandonment (leaving a paid charge for 6 days with no food or water). I’m very surprised at HC even reporting this as Stokey Cats and Dogs work so hard in the community.



  9. alicatmizon on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:43

    I don’t understand why I’ve been removed from the Stokey Cats Facebook group. I can only imagine Elzbieta has read my previous comment on this article and has since blocked me from the group.

    This only increases my doubts about this whole situation… I’ve simply shared my view on the matter and I also praised the amazing work done by Stokey Cats.

    To then be blocked is, again, strange.



  10. mike on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:46

    Why on earth are you calling people sycophant and needy and CRAZY to me they sound passionate and believe in their cause. to be honest remi your missing the point a lot of people on groups like this don’t have real or much friends and only live in a virtual world with all this twitter shit fb crap and probably find comfort in groups like this which is GREAT a lot of elderly people too. just don t get why you have a vendetta against them if anybody has any problems or suspicions with donating then simply don’t nobody is forcing us we are all adults we can decide for ourselves in the end of the day the only one who will suffer is the animals not you not me stokey cats and dogs are your gateway to helping



  11. Cat lover on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 22:50

    Stokey Cats and Dogs is a wonderful organisation and I have seen firsthand the work they do. Ela is passionate about animal welfare and has always quickly shows acknowledged donations and showed the outcome of the proceeds.
    I’ve been following Stokey for the past couple of years and my experience – as well as that of many others – bears no resemblance to Remi Makinde’s baseless claims. I don’t understand why Makinde holds a grudge. I can only conclude that she is an unstable person who is misdirecting her anger on innocent people.



  12. anony mouse on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:00

    Hackney Resident, your question mark is misplaced. Unless you are Australian, in which case, everything? you say? ends in one? regardless?

    But please read Alicatmizon’s comment. This is actually a confusing matter for those of us who have offered our help, had our help accepted and then suddenly been excommunicated from the group for querying certain issues, even minutely. This sort of defensive, controlling behaviour ranks on a disturbing scale of megalomania for a charity ‘organisation’. If you know of either of the two respected local rescue groups who used to have dealings with Stokey Cats and Dogs I suggest you contact them privately, as I doubt either would be willing to comment publically.

    For those of us who have privately offered our help and been used and discarded, like Alicatmizon above, whom I don’t know, it would seem that we are left rather with a sense of mistrust and confusion. Issues of ego however, appear to be deeply problematic within Stokey Cats and Dogs. All I know is that when I mentioned things in private messages to the group leader they were ignored, but if I then, a day or two later, mentioned them in a public post they were acknowledged by her with shock horror wording and ‘oh my goodness, one of you must do something about this…’. This made me feel uncomfortable and confused. All I know is that Remi’s accusations have opened up a can of worms. Her motivation therefore is by the by. But she runs a business, not a charity, and therefore her motivation is not something meriting public scrutiny.



  13. Lola Dalston on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:17

    Hey anony mouse – I would never let someone like this near to my cats or dogs! Check it out: Hackney Hive‏ @hackneyhive Mar 24
    I just hope Elzbieta Gontarska @StokeyCatsnDogs realises I’m a stone cold crazy Outta control black bitch that doesn’t give a flying fuck.



  14. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:21

    Unlike you “Hackney Resident” I don’t hide behind anonymous monikers. My Fake Twitter accounts?

    @LondonCatSitter = my business http://www.londoncatsittingcompany.com
    @BrightonCatSit = my business http://www.brightoncatsittingcompany.com
    @TopDawgs = my business http://www.topdawgs.co.uk
    @hackneyhive = my community web site where I write under my name http://www.hackneyhive.com
    @itstheremi (me with links to my business websites)
    @duchessofackney my blog about my exploits as the owner of a Hollywood Escort service in the late 80’s into 2001, which I no longer have time to update. Last post of a few paragraphs last week was first in over a year. This blog led to a lot of interest and I met with a literary agent and publisher. I’ve put it on the Back burner for the moment.

    If you know of any anonymous Twitter accounts you claim I have please publish. I’m not a yella belly coward like most of you, hiding behind anonymous accounts.



  15. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:33

    Oh boy another Anonymous comment. I have never been investigated nor charged with pet abandonment, but if you have proof otherwise, please post it here. No cat has been left unfed for 6 days. A former client who booked late and we were unable to help claimed we left her cat unfed then attempted to get a freebie by saying she would mention it if we came to an agreement. I told her where to go and posted her emails on line.



  16. Hackney Resident on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:40

    Hi Remi!



  17. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:40

    You’re damn Skippy I’m a stone cold crazy outta control Black Bitch who doesn’t give a flying phuck. You gotta problem with that? I don’t suffer fools gladly. Just show us the money! Why is Elzbieta Gontarska refusing to give a break down of figures. She’s happy to point to the minuscule amount raised via crowd funding sites, but what about PayPal which is how most of her money is donated?



  18. Remi victim on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:50

    Remember that time you stalked that person and threatened them with a nife just because they said something you didn’t like on twitter I feel sorry for these cat people as this will only end in violence from your end i hope they’ve contacted the police.



  19. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:52

    Alison It’s the same old pattern. I rarely posted on her group and was unable to foster cats as I have a Jack Russell and Pomeranin/JRT who are not cat friendly. But I donated several times until last year. My largest donation of £100 was made last Fall but chose to give it directly to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust , Elzbieta Gontarska was not happy about. I wanted a dog who had to undergo several operations, received the correct treatment. SHOW ME THE MONEY ELZBIETA!



  20. Remi on Wednesday 5 April 2017 at 23:59

    Oh yeah I remember….I actually went to the persons house with a gang member who slashed this persons arm and threatened to shoot the person if they ever reported it. So no, I doubt the person I stalked will be going to the police anytime soon.

    C’mon you all are getting a bit desperate aren’t you? **rolls eyes**



  21. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 00:01

    My Facebook page about stokey cats and dogs https://www.facebook.com/stokeycatsndogs/



  22. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 00:04

    Unlike you “Hackney Resident” I don’t hide behind anonymous monikers. My Fake Twitter accounts?

    @LondonCatSitter = my business londoncatsittingcompany.com
    @BrightonCatSit = my business brightoncatsittingcompany.com
    @TopDawgs = my business topdawgs.co.uk
    @hackneyhive = my community web site where I write under my name hackneyhive.com
    @itstheremi (me with links to my business websites)
    @duchessofackney my blog about my exploits as the owner of a Hollywood Escort service in the late 80’s into 2001, which I no longer have time to update. Last post of a few paragraphs last week was first in over a year. This blog led to a lot of interest and I met with a literary agent and publisher. I’ve put it on the Back burner for the moment.

    If you know of any anonymous Twitter accounts you claim I have please publish. I’m not a yella belly coward like most of you, hiding behind anonymous accounts.



  23. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 00:41

    Lola Dalston I don’t cat sit. I have over 40 amazing cat sitters all over London, Surrey and Brighton. I also have dog walkers and Dog Sitters who look after dogs in their own homes or clients home. Elzbieta is on welfare and misappropriating funds people donate for the care of animals.



  24. Myriam.L on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 08:26

    ‘Pet Hate’, Hackney Citizen? Or simply ‘Hate’? Seems to be plenty of Haters out there, full of slender and smear, indeed…



  25. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 08:46

    Slender? Me? I wish my fat ass was slender



  26. HEAG online on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 10:47

    I am a member of the Stokey Cats and Dogs group on Facebook.

    There was a slightly heated discussion in regards to Elzbieta Gontarska publishing personal details about Remi Makinde in one of her recent posts – details about her past as a sex worker, mention of her being a criminal and a con, stating that she is crazy, and so on.

    A few of us other members challenged this, making a point that it was completely irrelevant information and was being used purely to “paint a bad picture” or to add fuel to the fire.

    In this, those of us who agreed it was wrong, were met with an onslaught of rude comments, simply because we agreed it was irrelevant and we then went on to question the motives behind the facts that 1. why is her past being used to paint a bad picture when surely the bullying and slander and false accusations would be more than enough? And 2. Why good advice given by other members was being ignored?e.g. report, seek legal advice, voluntary help to produce monthly accounts and publish them via social media to share with followers.

    The last response from Elzbieta on this particular post, was in my eyes, one of defensiveness and could also be taken as a dig at many of her followers – “I don’t see you or anyone else showing so much interest when a cat needs fostering or donations for treatment” – not all of us are in a position to offer care or funds but we continued to show our support regardless by being a present, active and passionate follower and member of the group.

    Regular updates on the situation were of a similar nature. Private messages on the matter have been ignored yet more distressed posts from Elzbieta Gontarska continue, with the usual GoFund Me screenshot but never any mention of PayPal, which I imagine is where the scrutiny lies? Offers of help were turned away – why? If anything they would have been a benefit and a welcome addition to the group, rubbishing all accusations in one swift movement.

    Those of us who have gone on to offer help, question or doubt the current accusations have since been removed from the Facebook group. Why? Because we don’t agree? Because we have simply questioned the matter at hand?

    This is extremely off putting. And I have to agree with alicatmizon above – this has raised many questions and doubts and the attitude and behaviour of Elzbieta has not reassured those of us who feel so. Although it doesn’t matter now as us select few have been removed from the group and blocked.

    Nevertheless, Stokey Cats and Dogs has and still does some truely wonderful work. They can’t be praised enough. I do hope they can find a way out of all of this.



  27. HEAG online on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 10:49

    And as a comparison in regards to publishing person information about Remi – another member of the group stated that Elzbieta never would have mentioned her past if she was a shop assistant. This only goes on to prove this information was being used to paint a bad picture.



  28. Richard W on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 11:19

    Maybe her history is relevant when she has a history of being violent and aggressive to people she disagrees with on the internet.



  29. Richard W on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 11:23

    Maybe her past is relevant because of her history of violence to people she has disagreed with on the internet?



  30. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 11:52

    What violent past? Name a violent incident. I shot someone in self defense in Texas who came to my home to rob me and most likely assault me. But remember, at the time I resided in a state, where I was legally allowed to carry a concealed weapon AND use deadly force if my life was in danger. No such luck in UK. And for the record, he lived.

    All this must sound exciting to your average yokel, small minded piss stained, socially inept, crazy cat ladies and the poor excuses for men who need to belong to her group for their sense of worth. You are free to read about my exploits as the former owner of an escort service in Los Angeles, Austin Texas and New Orleans on my blog. Of course visit my other sites for pet sitters. We cover London, Surrey, Brighton and parts of Cambridge 🙂

    ELZBIETA GONTARSKA, SHOW US THE MONEY!!!!!!

    I am adding screen shots of Elzbieta reason for not revealing how much is donated and what it’s spent on.

    https://www.facebook.com/stokeycatsndogs



  31. Stephen T on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 12:10

    It’s pretty strange that Remi’s cat sitting company was only recently registered even thought she’s been doing it for ages…

    https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/10549528



  32. georgevio on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 12:11

    I work for Remi Makinde as a cat sitter, and had been an active member of Stoke Cats and Dogs until this public dispute broke out. I never commented on the facebook dispute threads, nor ‘liked’ any of the comments therein. Given the circumstances of my employ, I wrote to Elsbieta telling her that I worked for Remi Makinde and asked her, privately, what had spurred the situation. She did not reply to my message, but simply cut me out of the group and blocked me. I found this pretty hurtful given that when she asked me to go and find / pick up an injured stray seen limping along the road I did so immediately only 2 weeks previously. I had gone looking for other injured animals following posts on her page too, and had then matched them up with missing ones on two occasions. I always recommended her group to my clients and told them to join the page, and also recommended her on messageboards like Next door. Likewise I had asked for advice on the facebook message board regarding animal welfare situations in my area and Stokey Cats and Dogs had been a potently helpful resource in this respect, as other people on my street, who I had never met, and who were experiencing the same problem would respond. Strangers proved helpful in advising on other matters too. But I no longer have access to this noticeboard. Given that I had dealings with Elsbieta very recently I did find it very brutal of her to cut me off, simply because of who I work for. If she had replied to my message saying ‘Really? You work for Remi? Well I’m sorry but Im going to have to block you as I dont want you reporting back to her’ or something it would have been comprehensible. But I was decent enough to tell her I worked for her and she just responded by cutting me off, with no personal addendum. This totalitarian behaviour comes across as brutal and almost arrogant. I have no comment to make on the funds, as I don’t know anything about it. But judging by the comments above from other people who have been financial / active supporters of the group and who got brutally cut off merely for querying elements within it, or in my case, simply by association of who I work for, it does leave me wondering how much Elsbieta cares for animals if she cuts off other people involved in animal rescue just because of personal contrariness. Personal dislikes should remain outside a group that purportedly serves to help locals HELP CATS. A healthy organisation, just like any healthy society, is one that allows for open discussion, dissent and dispute. Likewise the more eyes and ears the better and if the facebook page is dedicated to helping find lost cats, help home stray cats and all these sorts of matters it is absolutely counterproductive to block active rescue enthusiasts purely out of a peculiarly fragile and defensive pathology of power / control. However, I do not doubt for one second that Elsbieta set this group up in good faith. I have no idea what went wrong, or indeed if anything has gone wrong. All I know is that her Putinesque behaviour invites suspicion and mistrust.



  33. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 12:20

    🙂 Dontcha love it. They are going to come up with all sorts keep digging. Err… I was a sole trader for many years? Could have continued, but because I’ve had to hire office staff who are PAYE, I formed a LTD. company Not bad for a violent whore, who abuses animals eh? 😉



  34. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 12:22

    Dontcha love it. They are going to come up with all sorts. Keep digging. Err… I was a sole trader for many years? Could have continued, but because I’ve had to hire office staff who are PAYE, I formed a LTD. company Not bad for a violent Black whore, who abuses animals eh?



  35. Cat Ally on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 16:27

    Dirty lonely old sex worker guzzling gin and prescription drugs trolling people on line…

    Doesn’t look after animals she’s paid to and doesn’t pay her workers.

    Hackney Citizen you should be ashamed…



  36. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 18:50

    Jack is that you? Once I sober up from copious amount of pills I’ve been popping and gin I have been drinking, I will update the my Meet the Team page. Hasn’t been updated in over a month and got 7 more team members to add.

    There’s no hope of me finishing the piece I’m writing on Stokey Cats and Dogs for hackneyhive.co.uk tonight. I mean why waste such a lovely evening on writing about a bunch of despicable people I have never met.

    http://londoncatsittingcompany.com/meet-team/



  37. Remi on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 18:51

    You have nailed it darlin’, They’ll have a hard time challenging you.



  38. Snood on Thursday 6 April 2017 at 21:42

    what a pleasant specimen of humanity you are



  39. Trev on Friday 7 April 2017 at 10:17

    Wowzers.

    Remi sounds like a lovely person. A quick google of her name shows all she does is troll people online! But hey, if she demands to see something, she must get it! *stamps feet*



  40. Myriam.L on Friday 7 April 2017 at 10:37

    @Hackney Citizen, writing an article based on one woman’s allegations, without any proofs? A woman well-known for being extremely vindictive online. Call that journalism? She should spent more time dealing with her pet-sitting/walking companies if she cared about animals that much, instead of writing vitriolic blogs and harassing tweets/personal Facebook messages to people she does not even know. Seems Katie Hopkins is an inspiration for some….



  41. june on Friday 7 April 2017 at 11:58

    I thought that journalists had to check out their source material thoroughly before they made any type of allegation? if this is the case, you are sorely lacking professionally. This woman types an entire stream of lies and vitriol, she threatens violence, stalks people and has a long criminal record. well done hackney citizen for allowing lies to be spread regarding a hard working group of volunteer rescuers and rehomers.



  42. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 12:13

    I will be also writing a piece for http://www.hackneyhive.co.uk I began a few weeks ago and have 919 words so far. I now have more to add that will blow your socks off. BTW PayPal by the way will be shutting down Stokey Cats and Dogs account. Hope Elzbieta Gontarska refunds my donations so that I can give it to another charity.

    Miriam don’t worry about my business, I don’t work 24 hours a day, so I do have time to answer my detractors.

    Cheri o! 🙂



  43. Annie on Friday 7 April 2017 at 12:14

    I’m very surprised that Hackney Citizen would publish Remi’s unfounded allegations. She has form for attacking and libelling people online which a bit of Googling would have turned up.



  44. Trev on Friday 7 April 2017 at 12:21

    So much hate…

    I very much doubt PayPal will be shutting down a personal account just because an online troll asked them to.



  45. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 12:25

    Get it into your thick skulls you sons of bitches that it works both ways. You insult me, post lies written by people I don’t know on the internet and think I’m just going to lay down and take it???? I will DESTROY and F**K your pathetic world up. Wanna end this? Leave me the fuck out of your discussions. You are so way out of your league.

    Even the police will tell you, as long as you are harassing me on your Facebook group, there is nothing they can do. I break the law if I make threats to harm you, which I haven’t and won’t. So put on your big girls knickers and suck it up.



  46. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 12:28

    Oh annie, shock horror you have lived a sheltered life haven’t you. Only people who fuck with me feel the full force of my rage.



  47. Remi Victim on Friday 7 April 2017 at 13:10

    Here’e Remi encouraging rape using one of her many fake accounts…

    http://pasteboard.co/1pkYpVea4.png

    This is proved by her encouraging rape AGAIN using the same words with her duches of hackney account

    http://pasteboard.co/1ppViEaiD.png

    Let me explain – after this was shown to the police they have decided to take this very seriously.



  48. Sarah on Friday 7 April 2017 at 13:19

    This is Remi encouraging rape using one of her many fake accounts

    http://pasteboard.co/1pkYpVea4.png

    This is Remi encouraging rape again using her Duchess of Hackney account

    http://pasteboard.co/1ppViEaiD.png

    These are obviously the same person encouraging the rape of a female.

    Let me be clear, after showing this to the police they have decided to take this very seriously.



  49. Ms Awkward on Friday 7 April 2017 at 13:54

    I hope it’s clear to everyone from the unhinged responses and obscenities that Remi is an unreliable witness.



  50. Annie on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:01

    As for “crazy cat ladies”, I’m sure most of us look forward to the day when we don’t have to worry about abandoned animals and can get on with our other stuff. Unfortunately, many people take on cutesy kittens, but aren’t prepared to commit 15-20 years to looking after them. Neutering would cut down the population (and makes animals heatlhier; they don’t fall in love and have fantastic sex) which would be good news for “crazy cat ladies” and for those who don’t like cats, or crazy ladies. This organisation neuters as well as rehomes cats.



  51. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:01

    Dude, check this out. She is not a registered charity or not for profit. According to PayPal Rules and some EU charity banking blah blah blah regulation blah blah, Elzbieta Gontarska has no business funneling donations via PayPal. It won’t be the first time she’s had issues with PayPal, just ask her. As recent as last fall, they suspended her account for other reasons.

    Dismissing me as a troll and trying to dehumanize, shame me and defame me, is very convenient for you isn’t it? Well as you can see it’s not working.

    Have a read of some of the comments made by kind caring sweet people who were members of her group. Why is all the attention on me? I’ve received emails and text from people who now have their doubts about Stokey Cats and Dogs.



  52. Clapton resident on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:04


  53. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:06

    Having a Black cock shoved down your throat is not rape. It can be quite a pleasant experience 🙂 By the way my friend Leroy wants to know if she swallows.

    Sarah Champion chose to vilify me and post crap about me so I suggested a black cock…..works for me all the time…..



  54. june on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:08

    dehumanizing? shaming? and defaming? are you being SERIOUS??? you have lied, defamed, threatened, bullied and even contacted people in the group calling them names! don’t play the victim now, remi! if you can’t take the truth being told, don’t lie and be vicious and expect people to allow you to do so. if you can do better with regard to saving and rehoming terrified, hurt, abandoned and unwanted cats, kittens and dogs, why don’t you use your many different alias’s and accounts to find rescuers and fosterers? people might actually respect you then. it is all very well making money from animals, as you obviously do, but why don’t you give back in the form of advertising for help with all the many kitties in dire straights? you profess to love animals but i have seen little to prove that. you seem to just love drama and causing as much upset and offence as possible.



  55. Annie on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:16

    PayPal routinely suspend accounts if there’s anything “unusual”; I had mine suspended temporarily as I sold something for £1,200 on PayPal and I had to verify my details. Banks put stops on accounts if they see activity abroad etc. It means nothing.



  56. David on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:16

    Where does she claim to be a charity? I can’t find it anywhere?

    It’s just a private individual taking contributions that helps in the rehoming and treatment of cats and dogs.

    I don’t really understand the hate.



  57. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:19

    Hey Ms Awkward, I reckon you are Remi Williams N’Dure. I saw this because your daughters Facebook account is Aw kward eyes is it not? You tried to friend me last year, but I deleted your request. I only friend people I know and have met. You are one to be calling me unhinged, when only this morning you posted on the Facebook details of your mental illness.

    I have posted a screen shot on https://www.facebook.com/stokeycatsndogs/



  58. Sarah on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:29

    And she is saying that because you sent her an unsolicited abusive message

    http://pasteboard.co/1qMaSLnC3.png



  59. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:31

    Gontarska had the chance to respond to Max the journalist, but she refused to. Why?



  60. june on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:40

    wow. is there no levels you won’t plummet to?



  61. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 14:59

    I gave Stokey Cats and Dogs a lot of exposure from when they first started until this year. There was a permanent link from the home page of both hackneyhive.co.uk and http://www.londoncatsittingcompany.com, I promoted them and retweeted for them on my @hackneyhive twitter which has close to 11,000 followers, I constantly referred clients and other people to them and I donated money, although Gontarska claimed I didn’t. . I posted screen shots from PayPal. £75, £40, £50 and £35. She was pissed off at me when I donated £100 towards the operation of a dog but paid it directly to Celia Hammond Animal Trust.

    I’m not in the position to foster cats as I have 2 dogs who are not cat friendly. I have 2 charities I support. £1 of every completed booking goes to my 2 fave charity. Barking Mad Dogs, rescues dogs in Romania….they are amazing and the Dog I want to rescue is undergoing treatment of which I am paying for. Celia Hammond is my other charity. I’ve written about them here

    http://londoncatsittingcompany.com/supporting-animal-rescues/

    I’m not looking for validation from asswipes like you I don’t know. I get enough respect from people I care about. People like you are nothing to me. Unfortunately you idiots chose to believe things written about me, by people who don;t know or met me like you and the other nut jobs in Stokey Cats.

    About that black cock, let’s talk. Once you go black you won’t go back.



  62. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 15:10

    She’s one of the mentally ill needy sycophants whose self-worth depends on a collective of dunces like y’all. She had no problem giving her tuppence worth about me, so I sent her a message. Make sure you wrap your arms around her….she needs your validation.



  63. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 15:11

    Absolutely none and why are you so shocked?



  64. june on Friday 7 April 2017 at 15:57

    I think your past occupation is catching up on you and showing your crude inability to discuss anything without vulgarity. thank goodness the vast majority of people seem to be able to see through you. i will be screenshotting these conversations and contacting many of the large organisations who follow you and ask if they are aware of what you are like.



  65. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 16:45

    Good, I await my day in court.



  66. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 16:53

    What the hell do you want? Sainthood? Give it a rest.



  67. Remi on Friday 7 April 2017 at 16:54

    Knock yourself out darlin’….



  68. Lola Dalston on Friday 7 April 2017 at 18:04

    Does anyone have a proof of the funds being misused? Surely if a newspaper decided to cover up a story like this then they must have a proof. Otherwise they could face legal action for defamation.



  69. Manny on Friday 7 April 2017 at 20:59

    Wow! This has really turned into a thing huh…

    I don’t know Remi personally but have seen enough of her online; Hackney Hive, Twitter et. al. and while I don’t agree with everything she says (although can believe her self proclamation that she just don’t give a f..) and agree that she can be a bit over the top online, from what I have seen, if anything she is very open about her past etc. etc.

    What I do know is my wife is on the SCAD facebook group and has had the odd dealing with Elizabiza (apologies if that’s spelled wrong) and from what I tell she can be very rude and aggressive. She got on like some self appointed cat czar and if you weren’t on board with her trip, she pretty much made out like you were some kind of cat abuser. I’m sure she has helped a whole load of cats, but I have also seen all kinds of troll-eque behaviour on local bulletin boards for Hackney and Islington from her and her friends over the years so this is all not that surprising. If I read some comments above correct she was offered some free accountancy by someone trying to help her resolve all this? Maybe she should take it and this can stop being about who is the biggest douche online or who has the most mates. And to be fair.. if you put yourself out there as a organisation (no matter how official etc.) and take money from people, being accountable shouldn’t really be a big deal should it? I appreciate that she may not like how it’s all come about, but that for good or ill is civil society.



  70. june on Friday 7 April 2017 at 21:27

    stokey cats and dogs is a facebook page, not an organisation. we either fund our own rescues or dip into our pockets to help pay for operations, petrol to rescues or chipping etc. ela is efficient, caring and organised, she has to be with the busy life she has but she works tirelessly to home each and every cat we find. she has found homes, along with one other amazing member of the group, for all of the cats i have personally rescued. at no time does she raise funds for anything other than emergency vet treatment. this is now turning into a vendetta against someone who puts her entire life into saving the lives of the innocent that would otherwise be pts. how on earth can you justify remi’s filthy aggressive threatening language? her lies?her defaming of people for her own enjoyment? all i can say is that i hope she doesnt turn on your wife next, or turn up at your door with a gang member and slash your arm as she stated previously? no? i thought not.



  71. Manny on Friday 7 April 2017 at 22:43

    I don’t “defend” anyone on this thread, and certainly don’t fear being “turned on” by anyone – just say it how I’ve seen it.. but the answering your own weird rhetorical about gang members slashing my wife’s arm really told me so I’ll leave you to your crazy cat lady war.



  72. Annie on Friday 7 April 2017 at 23:21

    I hate to be pedantic, but in the hypothetical scenario it was your arm being slashed, not your wife’s. It drew on previous comments by the lovely Remi. I know it’s hard to keep up, I’m still slightly confused about the black cocks. Carry on.



  73. London Cat Rescuer on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 01:40

    There are many local cat rescuers. At the end of the day it’s about saving as many kitty lives as possible. Rescue is hard work, both psychically, emotionally and financially.

    I carry out essential cat rescue across London.

    It’s understandable that many people are spilt over what should be divulged regarding monetary donations. All rescues who are voluntarily setup will ask for monetary help from friends and other like minded people.

    It’s the only way to provide the essential help many rescue cats desperately need.

    This situation has become a personal war of words from both sides.

    Everyone just slow down a notch.

    I’ve had negative dealings with the group and it’s founder, however, having read all these comments both for and against, I’m feeling rather grubby as though I’ve just witnessed an ape shit slinging competition.

    * Remi, wind it in a notch and concentrate on what you truly believe is the main issue you have. Clearly you have a strong case for asking what you originally requested.

    **everyone else quit the come back bitching and shit slinging because you really aren’t helping Elzbieta. You are just exposing yourselves to insults.

    None of this will resolve the issue that remains solely between Elzbieta and Remi.

    Showing support to Elzbieta is great, but none of these replies are helping her. You are just churning up muddy waters even more and encouraging a war of words ~ in a very public manner and many innocent people are getting hurt.

    Remi started off with a valid point. She’d made donations only to be categorically told that she had not following a question raised within the group.

    How would you feel had that been you?

    How would you have felt had any of you commented on something ~ free speech and all ~ only to find yourself the victim of insulting vitriol capped off with a group exclusion and ban, despite your many hours dedicated to helping the group and it’s founder purely because you said something that went “against the grain” (I know I was).

    I have my many gripes with Elzbieta, despite knowing of online bad mouthing of me and my rescue work, the situation should remain between us, at least it always has from my side.

    If everyone ceased commenting and allowed the situation to be sorted out between Remi & Elzbieta, things will resolve themselves soon enough.

    I wish no-one any ill thoughts, just that everyone slows down and remembers what is the most important issue ~ kitty rescue.



  74. june on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 07:28

    read her page. that is what she did to someone who disagreed with her. believe you me, i am not the weird one. she posts peoples children’s facebook details, pictures of people, and then threatens. she is not a nice person and yes, your post did sound like a defence of her and her spite



  75. Remi on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 08:42

    Tell you what, I’ll make it £100. £50 to CHAT and £50 to http://www.barkingmaddogrescue.co.uk/

    C’mon Elzbieta, do it for the animals you claim to love so much. Do it to prove I’m wrong, give my outta control ego a good bashing – I hate to be wrong, cos I’m always right.

    SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!

    AND FOR GOODNESS SAKE, CONTROL THESE BATSHIT CRAZY CAT WOMEN IN HACKNEY. THEY’RE LIKE A WILD PACK OF HYENAS.



  76. Lola Dalston on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 09:34

    I repeat my comment again as it was lost in many other irrelevant personal comments. I am really interested to know if anyone has a proof of the funds being misused? Surely if a newspaper decided to cover up a story like this then they must have a proof. Otherwise they could face legal action for defamation.



  77. Kitcat on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 10:24

    I’m spending my day contacting Remi’s customers and vets making sure they’re aware of how unhinged she is. Not to be trusted caring for animals. Strange lonely old creature that she is…



  78. Remi on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 11:01

    The newspaper is reporting on my doubts and allegations as well as that of others. They have not asserted funds are being misused.

    What grade did you get in O level reading and comprehension?



  79. Remi on Saturday 8 April 2017 at 11:53

    Oh geeze kitcat, you need to take a deep breath. I understand for an unworldly provincial yokel like you, this must be all quite exciting for you, but others aren’t too impressed. You batshit crazy cat ladies, are actually making me look good.

    Old tired worn out pejoratives such as “strange, old lonely and unhinged” isn’t helping you nor does it hurt me, as I know who I am and my worth. I have never met none of you nor was I an active member of Stokey Cats.

    Now let’s address my clients. I just did a check with my amazing nifty admin software that makes my business run smooth (most of the time) and it’s telling me we have a total of 5,263 registered clients. Of which a high percentage use us on a regular basis. While we do well in the Hackney area, our core business is in places like Marylebone, Hampstead, Belsize Park, a good handful in Belgravia (including a Baroness), St Johns Wood, Chelsea, Putney, Brixton, Clapham, Richmond, Twickenham, Dulwich too many to mention.

    People as stupid and simple as you actually rescue pets???? Is it any wonder people are questioning the appropriation of funds.

    Good grief woman, best stick to cats cos people like you should not be allowed to breed other humans.

    It’s a beautiful morning, take a deep breath and soak in all the day has to offer. I will.



  80. Ms Awkward on Sunday 9 April 2017 at 13:56

    Ms Awkward, of Awkward Avenue, Awkwardsville, would like to make it known that she has no connection with the unfortunate woman named by Remi 1,000 paragraphs ago.

    Once again – WRONGGGG!



  81. Lesley on Friday 14 April 2017 at 04:15

    “A poll showed 70 per cent were in favour of the donation, with Makinde adding: “At least I won’t have to eat cat food.””

    A poll of 10 people – at least 4 of whom were Remi.
    Great “journalism”, Max.

    I would have assumed that Max was one of Remi’s pseudonyms.

    Remi has the twitter persona of a classic social justice CRY BULLY. A sassy trouble-making, attention seeking loudmouth.

    I could ask Max if he beats his wife. When he replies “no”, I could run an article saying “Max denies beating his wife!”



  82. Lesley on Friday 14 April 2017 at 04:19

    The photograph max has chosen for this piece shows a cat with its ears back and flat. It is distressed.



  83. Remi on Thursday 20 April 2017 at 10:25

    See what I mean, these are the petty idiots you run across in these groups.

    I see Elzbieta is still not offering an explanation of where the donations go… [Deleted by moderator].