If you’ve ever stopped scrolling to watch a sad-eyed animal staring through a fence, or opened your wallet for a dog named Charlie with a Friday deadline – this page is for you.
Fake animal rescue pages are everywhere on social media. They use stolen videos, fabricated urgency, and emotional manipulation to collect donations that never reach a single animal. Many of them claim to be registered nonprofits. Most of them aren’t. And the people donating to them are some of the kindest people on the internet.
I started investigating these pages after a follower asked me to look into it. What I found was bigger than I expected – a sprawling network of fake and unverifiable rescue pages operating across Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, many of them appearing to be run from outside the United States.
This tracker is my attempt to document what I find and give you the tools to protect yourself.
How to use this tracker
First things first, the tracker is updated regularly as new pages are identified, so bookmark this page now.
Every page listed here has been researched and cross-checked against the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Where pages claim 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, I’ve verified (or been unable to verify) that claim directly with the IRS. Each entry includes red flags, payment methods, and current status.
If you find a dead link, it probably means the scammer closed shop and moved on to their next con — they change names often and change their sense of entitlement… never.
☝️Click at the top of any column to sort by column or use the search bar at the top to look for something in specific.
👇This is a MULTI-PAGE LIST – please use the page numbers at the bottom of the table to move to the next page or navigate to a specific page.
| SCAM NAME | PAGE | FOLLOWS | CLAIMS NON-PROFIT | IRS STATUS | PAY METHOD | RED FLAGS | STATUS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Ranch Horse Rescue - REPORTED - SHUT DOWN | 55,000+ | No | No | PayPal connected to Shelter of Hope or Save Lives (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=CL4YZCSB5ZZTQ) 6/9/26: Page set up a new PayPal account after their first one was shut down. https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XQRHYCBPQ33DA | No IRS record Claims to be located in Delaware, USA - Facebook profile lists "Primary country location for the profile owner: Uganda" | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 6/3/26 - PAYPAL SEVERED ACCOUNT "This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations." 6/9/26 - NEW PAYPAL ACCOUNT LISTED 6/9/26 - New account reported to PayPal |
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| Arizona Saved Paws - REPORTED - SHUT DOWN | 2,800+ | No | No | PayPal SAVE LIVES (www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=59TRRRRBBKVNY) | Pirated videos | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT SHUT DOWN WITHIN 24 HOURS! |
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| Carl Slides | 330,000+ | No | No | Selling slippers/slides via website (site is now being blocked by multiple browsers and marked as a fake store) | Sadvertising New site - domain registered 3/8/2026 Same images as appear on relumetherapy.co Instagram - another scam page | |||
| Elizabeth Wilson Rescue - REPORTED - SHUT DOWN | Website | unknown | No | No | Shopify | AI-generated main character AI-generated dogs AI-generated shelter environment Domain registered 5/12/2026 | ||
| Equine Hope Foundation | YouTube | 44,600+ | No | No | PayPal (paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=GSKE3V5RQFJXQ) | Pirated images | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Equine Rescue Barn - REPORTED - SHUT DOWN | 288,000+ | Yes | No | PayPal connected to Cristina Sanchez (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=YXA6DWEWZ6JB4) | Fake 501(c)(3) claim; no IRS record PayPal to personal account Claims to be located in Florida, USA - Facebook profile lists "Primary country location for the profile owner: Uganda" | UPDATE: 7/16/26 - Facebook page deactivated; PayPal account "This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations." Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Fred Baligonza - REPORTED - IG SHUT DOWN | 4,100+ | No | No | PayPal PAWS RESCUE, RESCUE ALL PAWS (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=UK3P9KHUTGFHJ) | Pirated videos | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| God's Mercy Horse Rescue | TikTok | 7,400+ | No | No | States "Link in bio" but none is present, watch for incoming payment link | Recycled content; no IRS record | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) |
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| Heel and Hoof Rescue (Safe Haven Horse Rescue) | YouTube | 158 | Yes | No | https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/KATAMBADERRICK | Page is entirely populated with stolen videos. PayPal leads to an individual (Katamba Derrick), not an organization. Katamba Derrick can be traced to Uganda. Background image on PayPal is a photo with a calendar page on which every day is noted "GET MONEY." Claims to be a nonprofit in Bakersfield, CA. | Reported to: FTC: 6/9/2026 (Report #202743161) PayPal: 6/9/2026 |
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| Help Saving the Paws | 7,400+ | No | No | Selling bracelets at https://savingthepaws-help.com/collections/original-bracelets | Brand new operation; name confusion with real org "Saving Paws Animal Rescue" Facebook profile lists "Primary country/region location for people who manage this Page includes: Philippines (5) United States (3) Italy (2)" | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) Reported to Stripe - their credit card processing software company |
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| HopeHooves Rescue | 13,000+ | No | No | No overt money requests; Possible social media earnings play PayPal added: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=4TXY88Z6ML766 | Recycled content from Silent Hooves TikTok | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) 6/16/2026 - PayPal has canceled that payment account, "This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations." |
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| Hungry & Abandoned Paws Shelter | 798+ | No | No | Ko-fi donation link (https://ko-fi.com/solidaritypaws) | Claims to be in the US Facebook profile lists "Primary country/region location for people who manage this Page includes: Brazil (3)" Stolen images | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) |
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| Just One Life Shelter | 361+ | No | No | Ko-fi donation link (https://ko-fi.com/solidaritypaws) | Claims to be in the US Facebook profile lists "Primary country/region location for people who manage this Page includes: Brazil (3)" Stolen images | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) |
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| Love Souls | YouTube | 6 | No | No | Paypal "Stand with us" (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=CDDWGLW4GPK5J) | Pirated images, started the page on May 12, 2026 and already has 139 video shorts posted, Paypal indicates payments will be in GBP | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Margaret Wilson Rescue | Website | unknown | No | No | Shopify | AI-generated main character AI-generated dogs AI-generated shelter environment Domain registered 5/9/2026 | ||
| Mary Watchers | 101,000+ | No | No | PayPal connected to 'animal rescue shelter' (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6MAS6ARJQ5ADW) Note: Previous PayPal link still present on page now leads to a "This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations" message on PayPal site. | Pirated video content from All Valley Horse Rescue Primary country location for the profile owner: Uganda (1) | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Mebo's Animal Rescue | YouTube | 6,100+ | No | No | PayPal MUKIIBI FAYAD (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=Z3LMQT963EVLS) | Pirated videos | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Miracle Jolly Horse Rescue | YouTube | 300+ | No | No | PayPal (paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=FA9T77B926VRA) currently shows the following message "This organization is currently ineligible to receive donations." UPDATE 6/4/2026: A new PayPal link connected to "Mulunga Frank" is now in place: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MKPQEDJL6KTBE | Pirated images, PayPal shut down, still posting - watch for another payment method to show up | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 PayPal: 6/5/2026 (new PPL link) |
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| Safe Haven for Horses | YouTube | 500+ | No | No | PayPal connected to Hope for Abandoned souls (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=SCCWQGQTZX8QG) | Pirated images, videos | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 6/16/2026 - PayPal link no longer active |
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| save.horse1 | YouTube | 10 | No | No | PayPal "Save Us Today" (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RSVGD343HAPTW) | Pirated images, new page - started May 14, 2026, likely in start up phase | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Second Chance Haven | YouTube | 38,900+ | No | No | PayPal SAVE LIVES, Christopher Sseruuma (paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=HJB4G9F6YGHTQ paypal.me/SseruumaChristopher) | Pirated videos | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Second Chance Sanctuary | YouTube | 15,600+ | Yes | No | PayPal connected to SAVE HORSES (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=LWXR53426PJ3A) 6/16/26 - PayPal account is still active, but they switched to Donorbox | Fake California 501(c)(3) claim; stolen content | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 Donorbox: 6/16/2026 |
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| Tarzo Horse Rescue Sanctuary | YouTube | 8,870+ | No | No | PayPal x2 kayiira Akram (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZVPB43CVGACXL) Nassiwa Sylivia (https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=QFL7YBQPBFC3A) | PayPal accounts appear to be connected to Uganda Pirated images and videos - including from Horse Illustrated | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 |
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| Walter's Haven Rescue | Website | unknown | No | No | Shopify | AI-generated main character AI-generated dogs AI-generated shelter environment Domain registered 4/23/2026 | ||
| Wild Horse Rescue Ranch | 7,200+ | Yes | No | linktr.ee/savea.life leads to a PayPal link "Pet Aid" (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=XQRHYCBPQ33DA) | Pirated images False nonprofit claim Has changed their username 2 times on Instagram | Reported to: FTC: 6/3/2026 (Report number: 202485617) PayPal: 6/3/2026 6/16/26 - SHUT DOWN!! |
This tracker is maintained by AskGrammy.com for consumer education purposes only. It is not legal advice. Findings reflect research conducted at the time of each investigation and are subject to change. If you believe you’ve been the victim of charitable fraud, file a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or contact your state attorney general’s office.
How to verify any rescue yourself
Before you donate to any animal rescue page online, take 30 seconds and search the organization name at the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: apps.irs.gov/app/eos
If they claim to be a 501(c)(3) and they’re not in that database — you have your answer.
Spotted one I haven’t listed?
If you’ve come across a suspicious rescue page that isn’t in this tracker, I want to know about it. Send me the details using my CONTACT FORM – select “Animal Rescue Scam” from the “Type of Scam” drop-down menu. Please include the page name, the platform, and a link if you have one. I’ll investigate and add it if the evidence warrants.
A note about legitimate rescues
Not every animal rescue page is a scam. There are thousands of dedicated, legitimate organizations doing incredible work every single day. If you want to support animal rescue — and I absolutely hope you do — your local shelter is almost always the best place to start. You can see exactly where the help is going.
You can also verify any organization at:
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search: apps.irs.gov/app/eos
- Charity Navigator: charitynavigator.org
- BBB Wise Giving Alliance: give.org