My name is Nathaly Knickel, and for the past four years I have dedicated countless hours to helping homeless individuals, abandoned animals, stray cats, and legitimate rescue organizations throughout my community. I have spent my own money on food, veterinary care, supplies, transportation, and foster support because I believe that helping others is simply the right thing to do.

Instead of being supported, I have repeatedly felt targeted and singled out on Nextdoor.

I have used the platform to ask for foster homes, assistance for animals in crisis, help for homeless individuals with pets, and support for legitimate rescue efforts. Time and time again, my posts have been reported, removed, or resulted in suspensions, while other inappropriate and hostile behavior remains visible.

For 8 years, I have witnessed what I believe to be inconsistent moderation, favoritism, and bias by certain Community Leads. Too often, volunteers and rescuers are treated as a nuisance rather than as people trying to make a difference. Some Leads appear to use their positions to silence voices they disagree with, creating an environment where neighbors are afraid to speak up.

Nextdoor was created to connect communities—not to discourage compassion.

Every animal rescued, every foster found, and every homeless person helped represents a community coming together. When volunteers are silenced, it is not just their voices that are lost; it is the loss of opportunities to save lives.

I am asking Nextdoor to:

Create a fair and transparent appeals process for suspensions.

Protect legitimate rescue and community assistance posts from being automatically labeled as spam.  Hold Community Leads accountable for biased or inconsistent moderation.
Provide greater transparency regarding moderation decisions.
Ensure that all users are treated equally and respectfully.

This petition is bigger than me. It is about every volunteer, rescuer, and neighbor who has ever been made to feel unwelcome for trying to help others.

I will continue helping homeless individuals, rescuing animals, and advocating for those who cannot speak for themselves. I refuse to be silenced for choosing compassion.

If you have ever experienced unfair treatment on Nextdoor or have benefited from the work of rescuers and volunteers, I ask that you sign this petition and stand with us.

Communities should uplift those who serve them—not punish them.