FAKE RESCUE CONTENT
Fake rescue content: All you need to know
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.
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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.
These are just some of the ways animals are harmed in fake rescue content
How to spot fake rescue content
Remember A.R.C: Authenticity, Reality Check, Creation
Use the A.R.C indicators to identify the real from the fake... #SpotTheScam! If you do find fake rescue content, do not engage with it but report it directly to the platforms. You can use our "How to Report" guides to find out how.
AUTHENTICITY
Always check the source!
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No genuine animal organization associated
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Page has multiple fake rescue videos
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No follow-up on what happened to the animals
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Unprofessional rescue or veterinarian practices
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Human “rescuer” is always the same person
REALITY CHECK
What is really happening?
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Unlikely to be a random encounter caught on camera
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Odd combination of species (snake vs cat)
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The same animals appear in multiple videos
CREATION
How is the content created?
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Creator delays assisting the animal to film the situation
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Clear editing of videos
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Multiple camera angles indicating set up
What is SMACC doing?
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Raising awareness with the public, so they can spot fake rescue and report it
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Calling for platforms to create policies prohibiting fake rescue content
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Working with platforms to develop and enforce policies to make sure the content is removed
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Collecting data (links) of fake rescue content to analyze trends and collate evidence of cruelty
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Sharing information with local animal organizations where possible, to track and prosecute perpetrators of abuse
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Advocating for an end to all fake rescue content to protect animals from harm