Lady Freethinker has sent urgent funding to care for dogs and cats rescued from an alleged online fake rescue scam in Uganda, where dozens of animals were found suffering from malnutrition, parasites, infections, injuries, and other serious health conditions.
Animal Welfare Alliance Uganda (AWAU), working with local authorities and veterinary groups, took custody of and relocated 52 dogs and six cats from two locations in Mityana to emergency shelters elsewhere in Uganda, according to AWAU. Police arrested Owen Godfrey Membe, who now faces animal cruelty charges.
The rescued animals, who are now considered evidence, are being monitored, quarantined, and cared for by AWAU and their veterinary team with support from Lady Freethinker. German nonprofit Welttierschutzgesellschaft (WTG) has supported the effort, as well.
Rescued Dogs (Lady Freethinker)
Membe appeared in Mityana court, where Uganda’s state attorney presented a charge of animal cruelty under the Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Act. Attorneys from co-complainants AWAU and Animal Justice Center were present at the hearing, where Membe pleaded not guilty and was denied bail due to lack of surety.
The animals’ conditions were heartbreaking. Dogs and cats were found malnourished and suffering from advanced starvation. Dogs were also reportedly found with tick infestations, flea infestations, flea dermatitis, transmissible venereal tumors, parvovirus, internal parasites, suspected pregnancies, physical injuries, and extreme lethargy. Cats reportedly suffered from ringworm, advanced eye infections, hair loss, flea infestations, and extreme lethargy.
Fake rescue scams turn animal cruelty into a money-making tool, with vulnerable dogs and cats intentionally harmed for profit.
Lady Freethinker has long worked to expose and stop staged “rescue” content along with other forms of online cruelty. Our latest report, Scrolling Through Cruelty, documented abusive videos across major platforms and found fake rescues to be one of the most common forms of cruelty on social media today. More information on how to identify fake rescue content can be found here.
After the animals recover and are approved by the court, AWAU plans to work with local and international organizations to seek new homes for them.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to everyone who worked to achieve this landmark arrest and rescue, and will continue working to help protect animals from suffering both online and off.
