A BBC Africa Eye investigation has uncovered a fraudulent network in Mityana, Uganda, where scammers exploit injured dogs to solicit donations from animal lovers abroad, raising over $730,000 via GoFundMe in five years.

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The scam centers on videos of dogs like Russet, a rust-colored dog with severe hind leg injuries. He was featured in hundreds of fundraising campaigns but never treated properly, dying shortly after a veterinarian performed surgery.

Undercover journalists discovered sham shelters rented to multiple content creators who film the same dogs in deplorable conditions, then post appeals on social media. Charles Lubajja, a shelter operator, admitted on hidden camera that the goal is to "squeeze" donors for money to buy cars or build houses.

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Nicola Baird, a British activist who was once scammed, now runs "We Won't Be Scammed" to expose these operations. She and other activists believe dogs are deliberately injured for content. Lubajja confirmed that some scammers have "cut the dogs" when they ran out of material.

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Local activists and veterinarians partly blame impulsive international donors for fueling the cruelty. A coalition is pursuing private prosecutions in Uganda to deter future abuse. Russet's case remains a stark example of how donated funds prolonged his suffering instead of alleviating it.