Target: Lino Anguzu, Director of Public Prosecutions, Uganda
Goal: Investigate dogs allegedly exploited for online donations and seek serious penalties for anyone convicted of cruelty or fraud.
An appeal for help should lead to care. In one case, allegations instead describe dogs kept in deplorable conditions and used as props for online fundraising. The supplied account says dozens of animals were removed from a purported shelter amid suspicions that images of their suffering were being used to obtain donations dishonestly.
Owen Godfrey Membe was arrested and pleaded not guilty to an allegation of killing an animal with unnecessary cruelty. The supplied account alleges that two accomplices managed financial accounts and evaded investigators; this requires confirmation. Allegations about donations and cruelty must each be supported by their own evidence.
The dogs’ welfare and the integrity of genuine rescue work both deserve protection. Investigators should follow the care records and the money, establishing who controlled the animals, the appeals, and the accounts. Demand a coordinated investigation, prosecution wherever evidence supports charges, and meaningful punishment for anyone convicted of exploiting animals or deceiving donors.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Anguzu,
Alegations describe dogs kept in deplorable conditions by Godfrey Membe, while their images served as tools for soliciting donations. We ask your office to coordinate veterinary evidence with lawful examination of fundraising posts, payment records, and account ownership. Verify the supplied account’s claims concerning additional participants and seek their testimony or arrest only where legally justified. Establish whether money was obtained through deception, who controlled it, and what care the animals received. Preserve digital material before it becomes unavailable.
Bring supported cruelty and fraud charges against each person whose alleged role can be established through admissible evidence. If convictions follow, seek substantial, proportionate penalties reflecting the proven animal suffering and financial misconduct. Work with welfare organizations to maintain safe care for the rescued dogs during proceedings. Follow every supported lead and protect the dogs throughout a fair criminal process.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Jim McCluskey
