donation sites - what is your opinion?

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probably you have come across websites that are intended to achieve a certain aim by asking people for donations. E.g. there are many websites that pretend to protect animals or to prevent cruelty to animals. However, there is no way people can retrace what will actually happen with their money. Personally I always have doubts when I see people asking for donations - at least when lifes (animal or human) are at stake. For example I ask myself where do all those videos of abused animals originate from, i.e. who filmed them and under what conditions. It is imaginable that those who allegedly help animals are the ones who are responsible for their torture in the first place or that they collaborate with those criminals. Now when they show those videos on their websites or on their Youtube channels and ask for donations you would support the exact opposite of what you thought you would support. This is of course just a scenario. But I find it quite suspicious when you try to contact those sites and get no reply e.g. if you come across animal abuse yourself and report it to them. Also, if they indeed love animals or love to help people that are in danger, why don't they work for the money that they are asking others for, coz that's what the donators have to do: they have to work for the money they donate. Yes, it can be argued that collecting money from many people is necessary because you couldn't earn the money yourself... but then again you could also ask people to join efforts which may be much more effective. Still I am unsure about this topic to be honest. So that's why I would like to know other people's opinions. What do you make of such donation sites and would you trust them? Do you think it could/ should be done differently to achieve an aim? Please share your thoughts and experiences! Cheers stk40m