Want to Help Animals? Wait — Do You Know About Animal Welfare Scammers?

Don't Let Your Donations Feed "Animal Welfare Roaches"

Want to help animals? That's wonderful — but before donating, it's important to take a closer look at where your money actually goes. On the internet, you may often come across passionate and energetic groups that rush to rescue animals at the first sign of trouble. They seem dedicated and heroic, but are they truly trustworthy?

Helping animals is admirable, yet if we focus only on dramatic rescues and overlook what happens afterward — such as the quality of care or long-term support — our donations may unintentionally end up feeding what some call "animal welfare roaches." These are organizations that exploit people's compassion for fame or profit while offering poor standards of animal care.

If you want to make sure your donations don't fall into the hands of these unethical groups, here are a few key points you can use to evaluate whether an organization truly deserves your help:

• Check whether they are transparent about how donations are used.
• Look for records of successful rehabilitations and adoptions, not just dramatic rescue videos.
• Observe the living conditions of the animals in their care.
• Review their communication style — do they provide detailed information or rely solely on emotional appeals?
• Seek feedback from former volunteers or adopters.

By staying informed and thoughtful, your donations can truly make a difference — helping animals in need rather than sustaining those who exploit kindness.

Essential Requirements for a Legitimate Animal Welfare Organization

The term "absolutely necessary" means something that must exist without exception — something indispensable. If any one of these essential elements is missing, it indicates that there is either an existing problem or one that will inevitably appear.

For an animal welfare organization to be lawful and properly managed, the following items are the most basic and essential. No matter how passionate, active, or seemingly in need of help a group may appear, if it lacks even one of the following, it should not be considered trustworthy:

• A legally registered association or organization.
• Annual application and approval of a legal fundraising permit (must be renewed every year).
• Monthly publication of donation records that are open for public review.
• Regularly announced and transparent financial statements showing income and expenditures.
• A publicly accessible webpage or list detailing the condition of every sheltered animal.
• An animal shelter that welcomes public visits and inspections.

Only organizations that are legally registered, transparent, and refrain from exploiting pity or emotional manipulation can truly bring lasting well-being to animals.

Things to Consider When Deducting Points from Animal Rescue Organizations

When assessing animal rescue organizations, it's important to evaluate not only their achievements but also the issues that may warrant "point deductions." Some groups may meet all the fundamental requirements, yet still exhibit warning signs that should not be ignored. The following list of "deduction items" includes problems commonly found in various organizations. Minor occurrences may not be alarming, but if such behaviors persist, worsen, or accumulate, the organization could be on the path to becoming what some call a "rescue roach" — a group exploiting the name of animal welfare for questionable practices. Donors should therefore remain vigilant about where their contributions go.

Warning Signs to Watch For

• An overemphasis on individual heroism — overly centered on one person as the "savior."
• Repeatedly delaying or defaulting on hospital payments.
• Providing only lump-sum invoices instead of detailed medical bills.
• The organization's leader claims to conduct rescues "in their spare time," despite being unemployed.
• Frequent changes of online usernames or even legal names to avoid scrutiny.
• Rushing to rescue animals initially but later abandoning them to shelters or temporary foster care.
• Regularly involved in bank debt lawsuits, compulsory execution notices, or other financial disputes (verifiable through public court records).
• Leaders or key members with criminal histories, particularly for fraud, breach of trust, theft, drunk driving, drug use, scams, or domestic violence.
• Individuals using "animal rescue" as a means to whitewash their personal reputations, often accompanied by name changes to conceal previous records.

How to Verify Background and Conduct

You can check criminal or financial records of individuals through Taiwan's official Judicial Yuan Judgment Database. This system also reveals whether someone has been subject to forced execution or debt collection procedures. Be cautious if you discover patterns of unethical or illegal behavior.

Financial and Labor Red Flags

• Previously violated the Charitable Solicitation Act and has been publicly announced or penalized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (records available online).
• Habitually delays or withholds staff salaries, or conducts fundraising by claiming they "can't afford to pay wages."
• Fails to provide mandatory labor or health insurance for employees, using unpaid premiums as pretexts for fundraising.
• Frequently solicits donations or loans for rent, land purchases, or property-related expenses.

Other Problematic Behaviors

• Secretly breeding animals while disguising activities as "fostering restaurants" or "adoption centers."
• Using animal exhibitions or interactions to attract customers for profit without proper exhibition permits.
• Threatening to "release" or abandon animals whenever faced with criticism or complaints.
• Persistently claiming financial hardship yet engaging in high-volume rescue operations.
• Habitually suing critics — spending more time in court than on animal welfare.
• High-profile scandals such as the notorious "Taichung Garbage House" case, where the person involved posed as a kind-hearted fosterer while hoarding donations and animals.

True compassion in animal rescue is shown through transparency, accountability, and sustainable care. Donors should stay informed, verify records, and support organizations that consistently act with integrity and responsibility.

Trustworthy Qualities of Animal Welfare Organizations

The following attributes are not strictly required, but the more of these traits an organization possesses, the more reliable and trustworthy it tends to be. Your donations and support are more likely to be effectively used to care for animals and improve their welfare.

Recommended Positive Indicators

• The shelter is open for public visits at any time.
• All animals are spayed or neutered before adoption.
• Every adopted animal has been microchipped and properly registered.
• All staff recruitment is done publicly, not limited to friends or family members.
• The group regularly organizes educational courses and awareness events.
• The organization actively engages in discussions and actions related to animal welfare legislation.
• They show genuine concern for a broad range of animal welfare issues beyond just "rescues."
• They do not indiscriminately take in animals and are willing to decline non-emergency intake cases.
• They temporarily close or refuse intake when necessary to maintain quality care for animals.
• Online receipt inquiries and direct printing are available for donors.
• They provide live video access so donors can view the animals' conditions at any time.
• When selling products, they issue official invoices and pay taxes according to the law.

Overall, shelters that are open for public visits demonstrate the highest level of transparency and are therefore considered more trustworthy.

The True Meaning of Compassion in Charity

In summary, Taiwanese people are truly compassionate, yet often too easily deceived. The main reason lies in treating charitable donations as a way to "buy peace of mind," believing that giving money alone equals love. However, what many fail to realize is that without proper scrutiny and follow-up on how donations are used, such contributions might end up merely feeding dishonest organizations that exploit animal welfare causes.

When these so-called "animal protection scammers" profit from compassion, they continue to use emotional tactics—such as collecting sad stories or promoting "save first, ask later" appeals—as a business model. In the end, this only causes more indirect harm to the very animals people intended to help.

True giving requires both compassion and accountability. If proper oversight is missing, it is better not to donate or get involved. It's fine for an organization to have some flaws, but if the number of negative signs continues to grow, it's time to stop donating. On the other hand, positive signs should be encouraged—the more, the better—as a helpful reference when deciding how much and where to give.

The Real Challenge of Animal Rescue in Taiwan

"Whoever rushes to the scene to rescue, that's who I'll donate to?" This sentiment reflects one of the biggest issues in Taiwan's current animal welfare culture. Many people focus their donations and attention almost entirely on the act of rescue itself, turning rescuers into the main beneficiaries of public generosity.

But what truly needs support — and what is far more difficult — comes after the rescue: providing shelter, medical care, sterilization, daily care, and eventually rehoming. These are the parts that require the most consistent funding, time, and emotional strength.

Unfortunately, the prevailing trend of "helping in the moment but ignoring what comes after" has created a strange phenomenon in Taiwan's animal community — one where some treat rescue as a career, without taking responsibility for the long-term welfare of the animals they save.

When Animal Rescue Turns Into a Competition for Pity

Should organizations that appear more "pitiful" receive more donations? At first glance, when we see shelters with dilapidated buildings, dirty environments, overdue medical bills, and a long list of things in need of repair, it's easy to feel they truly need help. Of course, when a new group faces an emergency or a sudden, one-time issue, offering support makes sense.

However, if a group has long relied on showing how poor or miserable it is to attract resources, then perhaps it's time to question whether donating actually helps. When an organization continually uses pity as its main fundraising strategy, it often becomes unclear where the money is really going.

An old saying still applies here: if you don't have the ability to run a proper shelter, it's better to volunteer at another established group rather than start your own. Running a shelter requires stable funding, good management, and transparency—not just sympathy from the public.

When animal rescue turns into a contest over who looks more pitiful, the true spirit of animal welfare gets lost. Compassion should drive us to protect animals responsibly, not to compete for attention through suffering. Only when resources are used wisely can real, lasting change happen for the animals we care about.

Is Equal Donation Distribution Really Fair?

Many people assume that dividing donations equally among all organizations is the fairest way to give. But is it really? Not quite. When donations are distributed evenly without considering each organization's level of effort, contribution, or impact, we may actually be unintentionally penalizing those who work the hardest.

Imagine this: one organization rescues over 200 animals every year, actively advocates for legal reforms, and invests heavily in public education. Meanwhile, another organization rescues only 30 to 50 animals annually and does not engage in broader advocacy or outreach. If both receive the same donation amount, does that truly reflect fairness?

Fairness isn't always about giving equally—it's about giving equitably. Recognizing the different levels of commitment and contribution ensures that donations go where they can make the greatest impact. Thoughtful giving helps sustain those who put in extraordinary effort to drive meaningful change.

The Hidden Danger Behind Superficial Animal Rescue

"As long as animals are rescued by someone, that's enough?" This way of thinking is actually the most terrifying part of modern animal welfare culture. It is precisely this mindset that so-called "animal welfare parasites" thrive on. Once the public sees that a rescue has taken place, most people lose interest and stop following up on what happens afterward.

This neglect creates disastrous consequences. Many rescue organizations' shelters end up becoming literal purgatories or garbage houses—cramped, filthy, and hopeless places for the very animals they claim to save. Yet, because the public rarely checks in after the rescue, these conditions remain hidden behind a facade of compassion.

As long as the majority of people do not care about what happens after the rescue, these exploitative rescuers will only become more active—racing to "snatch" rescue cases, playing the hero, and harvesting public sympathy. After staging grand rescues of dozens of animals, they simply showcase a few well-cared-for examples online to maintain their heroic image and deceive everyone else.

True animal welfare requires not only rescue, but responsibility, transparency, and lifelong commitment.

The Illusion of "Doing Something"

When people fail to meet the standard of what is absolutely necessary, some might excuse it by saying, "But I can see that they're doing something, so it's fine." Yet, even the so-called "animal welfare cockroaches" are busy doing things—because they must appear to take action in order to cover up their true aim: making money.

Judging only by whether someone seems active is not reliable. True manipulators don't simply take the money and do nothing; the clever ones work tirelessly in plain sight, performing for an audience to gain trust and legitimacy.

However, most of these people cannot withstand real scrutiny. When tested against the measure of what is absolutely necessary, they fail. And if someone can't even meet that basic criterion, then there's no reason to consider them any further.

Let the Sunlight In: Rethinking Animal Protection

"Animal protection is not a competition of sorrow; only by letting the sunlight in can positive energy endure and last forever."

Animal protection should never be about who suffers more, cries louder, or feels deeper pain. Compassion is not measured in tears — it's reflected in action, understanding, and respect for life.

When we let the sunlight in — through education, kindness, and collective effort — we replace guilt with hope. Positive energy sustains movements longer than sorrow ever can, inspiring people to keep doing good not out of pity, but from love.

True advocacy for animals is built on optimism. It's about showing what we can create together: safer shelters, cleaner habitats, and stronger communities. Every step counts when it's taken in the light.

Let us protect with love, not despair — and let the sunlight keep shining.