FAKE RESCUE CONTENT

Content showing animals being rescued from danger are popular on social media. Everyone loves a happy ending for an animal in need! Unfortunately this interest is exploited by creators, often in an attempt to make money. 

 

Fake rescue content shows animals deliberately put in harmful situations specifically so that the content creator can "rescue" the animal from that situation. Fake rescue content can also involve animals who are injured - for example with broken limbs or stuck in glue, oil or traps, or animals in life-threatening situations such as being stuck in bodies of water or trapped under large objects. 

 

Sometimes these videos are presented as prey animals being rescued from predator species. Often the animals placed together would be very unlikely to meet in the wild - for example, kittens being attacked by a boa constrictor. Sadly, these situations are staged simply so the creator can film the so-called “rescue” for social media. 

 

Disturbingly, some creators seemingly make animals ill or injure them in order to film them being treated. Some even show animals being given CPR, who appear to be dying or perhaps drugged. Another popular theme is to make it appear as though animals have tick parasites, by sticking beans or seeds onto their fur which are then pulled off. 

 

Sometimes these accounts will claim to be animal rescues and ask for donations, usually via a paypal link. You should never send any money unless you know for sure it is a legitimate animal rescue. 

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Here are some clues you can look out for to spot fake rescue content: 

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• Does the related account upload multiple videos with a similar setting, story line, condition or animal?

• Does the video look like it is professionally edited?

• Does the ‘rescuer’ seem to prioritize filming the situation first more than saving the actual animal?

• Is the ‘rescuer’ lacking standardized medical procedures when trying to treat the animal from injury? Or is this ‘extreme procedures’ being done in a private and isolated environment and not in an established medical facility with qualified staff?

• Does the video have multiple angles of the rescue?

• Is there any additional information on what happens to the animals after the rescue?

• Is the post or account associated with a legitimate rescue or animal organization that has a website and verified information?

• Is the animal in question rescued and/or released to an environment that is not suitable for them?

• Is the ‘rescuer’ the same person in every video that the account has?

• Do the same animals appear in multiple posts on this account?

• Is the animal in question situated in an unlikely scenario where the environment and condition seem to be unnatural or out of place?

• Is the situation one that is very unlikely to be randomly caught on camera?

• Is the ‘rescuer’ lacking appropriate equipment when rescuing an animal?