‘Cat Volunteer’ Demands Tens of Thousands — Did a Kindhearted Adopter Almost Become a Cash Machine?

I have always believed in “adopt, don’t shop.” Like many Hong Kongers, I love animals deeply and do what I can to help cats in need. But recently, I encountered a shocking experience that showed how some people exploit this kindness for money.

I met a woman named Wai Wai (蔚蔚) who introduced herself as a cat rescuer. At first, I thought she was a kind-hearted volunteer, so we exchanged contact information. Soon after, she began telling me that she was struggling financially and constantly short of money. She said she was a poor volunteer who needed help and often mentioned that she required large sums for the cats under her care. Even when I did not reply to her questions, she continued sending messages and said she wanted to come to my home to see the cats.

Although I began to feel uneasy, I decided in July 2023 to help her temporarily foster a cat named Happy, because Happy’s condition was very serious and her life was in danger. When I received her, I was heartbroken. The stitches from her surgery had already disintegrated, the wound smelled rotten and was oozing pus, and the amputation was poorly done. Happy’s paws and toes were completely black with necrotic tissue.

I brought her immediately to a qualified veterinarian for proper treatment. Under new surgery and physical therapy, her condition slowly improved. But at that point, Wai Wai started asking me to pay for what she claimed were her previous care expenses. She even appeared near my home and waited there, which made me feel harassed and unsafe.

Later, I learned that I was not the only one. Many people online had reported similar experiences involving a woman using the same name. Her pattern was the same — abandoning sick cats, demanding high “adoption fees,” and borrowing money that she never repaid.

Another animal volunteer named Ann also shared her experience. She said, “I think Wai Wai was using cats to make money. I once lent her a few thousand dollars, but she never paid me back. Later I found out she had borrowed money from many people and was deeply in debt.”

When reporters interviewed Mr. Luk Ka-kit (陸家捷), founder of Paws Guardian, he said that such cases are not uncommon. He explained that it is difficult in Hong Kong to verify who is a genuine animal volunteer, because there is no official certification system. “Helping animals can take many forms,” he said, “but once money is involved, it may not be a true act of volunteering. There are many grey areas people need to be aware of.”

He added that rescuing one animal does cost money, but the amount should be reasonable. “If someone asks for less than three thousand Hong Kong dollars, it can still be acceptable. But if the amount exceeds ten thousand, something is likely wrong, unless the person can show veterinary receipts listing surgery details, expenses, and photos from the rescue. That kind of proof makes the case more believable.”

This experience taught me how important it is to stay alert, even when we want to help. True volunteers focus on the animal’s welfare and are transparent about costs. When money becomes the focus, that is when we need to question what is really happening.

(The above content is an English translation. Please refer to the original Chinese news article for the source and full context.)

See the original news coverage here!