In response to your query about a video of a dog being drugged to stage a rescue, reports from animal welfare organizations confirm that fake animal rescue videos are a widespread and harmful trend on social media. While specific incidents involving drugging are rarely proven in viral videos, animals are intentionally put in distressing situations for content and profit, and this can include drugging.
Animal protection groups like World Animal Protection and Four Paws have exposed networks of content creators who stage fake rescues to generate views and donations. The staged abuse can cause significant physical harm and psychological trauma to the animals involved.
How to spot fake rescue videos
You can use the following signs to identify staged rescue videos and avoid amplifying them:
- Questionable setting: The animals are often found in unnatural or obviously staged settings, like a wild animal in a field or a domestic pet placed near a predator.
- Inappropriate filming: The "rescuer" may take an unusually long time to set up shots and film the scene rather than immediately helping the animal in distress. Heavy editing or multiple camera angles are also red flags.
- Too-calm animals: Real rescues often involve distressed and fearful animals. If an animal seems unnaturally calm or passive while being handled during an apparent "rescue," it could be a sign it was drugged or otherwise incapacitated.
- Suspicious creator: Many fake rescue accounts post dozens of similar videos, often using the same location or even the same animals in repeated staged scenarios.
What to do if you see a suspicious video
- Do not engage: Liking, commenting on, or watching the entire video boosts it in the social media algorithm, helping it gain more traction. Scroll past the video immediately.
- Report the content: Platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram all have specific reporting categories for animal abuse. Reporting the content can lead to its removal and helps limit its visibility.
- Gather evidence for law enforcement: If you believe the content is legitimate animal cruelty, capture screenshots of the video and the creator's profile. Report this information to local animal welfare organizations or law enforcement. Do not directly contact the content creator.
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