ConFuzzled has been made aware of the issue with the charity artwork materials, and that they have been copied from a furry community artist.
Specifically, we recognise that copying both direct and in style has occurred in said materials.
Firstly, we’d like to pass on that the charity themselves are mortified. They themselves did not create this artwork, but instead commissioned pieces through a third party. It is this third party that has created the copies.
Neither ConFuzzled, nor Saints Sled Dog Rescue condone this act of copying, and we are committed to making it right. We apologise unreservedly, to both the original artist (whom we are contacting directly), to artists and makers in the community, and indeed to the community as a whole.
The charity themselves would not have been aware of the work of the original artist, and as such did not recognise that copying had occurred.
As for ConFuzzled, we ourselves do not routinely vet the artwork and materials used by our charities. As such, an opportunity to verify the artwork was missed.
It is vital to everyone on the ConFuzzled team to support our community. This is a convention by furries, for furries. We fully support the creativity of community artists and makers.
As such, in conjunction with the charity, we plan to take the following steps,
- The charity will be withdrawing all use of the offending material.
- We are reaching out to the original artist directly.
- We will be working directly with a community artist to commission for the charity, new, original artworks, paid for by ConFuzzled.
- Updating our processes to review materials used by our charities.
To expand on some of this further; the charity are already in love with us! That their use of these copied pieces would hurt us, is something they are extremely upset about themselves. That’s not who they are.
The charity would far rather have true original works from furry artists. So, ConFuzzled are going to make that happen.
We hope however, that you can forgive them. This was done entirely without malice. In future, ConFuzzled will work closely with charities to help connect them with our community for materials they might want, to help promote their work.
We too are very sorry. We would never knowingly either support, or willfully ignore actions that hurt the community, and community creatives. Again, we are committed to making this right.
We hope that you will continue to support Saints Sled Dog Rescue, and the vital work that they do. Please, do not punish the charity for this mistake – it was done without malice, and we will make this right.
Thank you,
ConFuzzled Team.