The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into an animal welfare charity which failed to comply with an official warning around its record-keeping.

The regulator is investigating TheDogYouNeed.com, which was set up to relieve the suffering and distress of sick and abused animals in Europe by providing homes, care and treatment.

The charity’s purposes also include educating the public about animal welfare and the prevention of animal cruelty.

The regulator said trustees had failed to act on an official warning instructing the charity to supply outstanding financial information for 2020, 2021 and 2023 and provide information about what financial controls are in place.

“Failure to comply with an official warning amounts to misconduct and/or mismanagement,” the regulator said.

The Charity Commission received accounts for the year ending March 2020 which raised “several areas of concern”, including a “large number of cash expenses” and incomplete record-keeping.

“The charity’s accounts for subsequent years remain overdue, which has raised further concerns that this could indicate a significant breach of trust or wider non-compliance with charity law.”

The regulator’s inquiry will examine the extent to which trustees are complying with their legal duties in respect of the administration, governance and management of the charity.

The investigation will also look at whether trustees have adequate financial and strategic oversight of the charity and its activities and if there has been any misconduct or mismanagement by trustees.

TheDogYouNeed.com has been contacted for comment.