No Halo News · Sourced development
Pet Network board says it fired an employee and ordered new controls after discovering more than $2.5 million potentially missing
Pet Network Humane Society’s board said an IRS status discrepancy prompted an internal review that found apparent falsified records, accounting irregularities, and potentially more than $2.5 million missing over several years. The board said it isolated the suspected activity to one employee, terminated that person, initiated civil and criminal recovery efforts, and authorized stringent new controls and an independent third-party review. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office investigation remained open.
Status matters. This page records a sourced development, not a completed No Halo investigation. An allegation is not a finding. Dismissals, settlements, judgments, corrections and final outcomes remain distinct.
Donor relevance
Why this matters
The reported loss is large relative to the organization’s historical finances. The termination, law-enforcement referral, recovery effort, independent review, and new controls are material remedial actions for donors to monitor.
Attribution
Who reported or established this
The account was reported by South Tahoe Now from a statement issued by Pet Network’s board. The suspected wrongdoing remains under investigation by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Evidence limits
What remains unverified
No Halo has not established that $2.5 million was stolen, the exact loss period, the identity or responsibility of the former employee, whether other people were involved, or how much money can be recovered.
Right of reply
Organization response
The board said the nonprofit remains solvent and operational. It said currently available facts showed Executive Director Simi Balter had no prior knowledge of or association with the suspected activity, declined her offer to resign, and expressed continued support for her leadership.
Classification
How No Halo records this event
Event type: Corrective Action. Current state: Open. No Halo preserves the current procedural state rather than treating every mention as a finding.
Published September 17, 2026 · Last verified September 20, 2026. See an error or a later outcome? Submit a correction or right of reply.