Mandaue Woman Who Saved Her Dogs From Fire Warns Against Fake Donation Appeals

Two Dogs Saved, Then Their Owner's Story Was Used for Fraud

Ei Mei Lee Chui-Maningo, 37, saved her two Pomeranians, Miyah and Kayen, from a fire in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, by dropping them from her home on an upper floor into the waiting arms of people below. Both dogs survived unharmed. After video of the rescue drew millions of views, strangers used her photographs and story to ask the public for money.

Chui-Maningo said the GCash accounts circulated with those appeals did not belong to her. The people behind the fundraising pages had no connection to her, and she had never asked anyone for financial assistance. Her warning came as public admiration for her actions turned into an opportunity for people seeking to profit from the fire.

The Mandaue City Council honored her at its regular session on December 15, presenting a plaque recognizing her courage and compassion. The Island Rescue Organization also attended and brought gifts and treats for Miyah and Kayen.

Chui-Maningo's experience brings together two very different events: a genuine rescue during a frightening emergency, and unauthorized appeals that borrowed its emotional force. People who wanted to help saw photographs of a real woman and real animals in danger, while the payment details being shared belonged to someone else.

Her account also connects with other forms of animal welfare fraud, including nonexistent pets offered for adoption, accounts impersonating rescue organizations, and videos in which animals are deliberately placed in danger. Each uses concern for animals to attract attention or money, but the methods and the harm differ.

A Desperate Escape From an Upper Floor

Chui-Maningo was living alone while her husband worked at sea. Miyah and Kayen were her only companions in their home on an upper floor when fire broke out in the neighborhood and engulfed the structure.

With escape routes limited and little time left, she focused on getting the dogs out. She later recalled being terrified and said she could not remember exactly how she managed to bring them down. She held them tightly because she feared that, if released, they would run away and hide, making them impossible to rescue.

People watching initially suggested that she leave the dogs behind. Chui-Maningo refused. She described the place Miyah and Kayen held in her life while her husband was away:

They are my family,

Chui-Maningo decided to trust the people in the street to catch the animals. One by one, she dropped the dogs into their waiting arms. Both landed safely and were later examined by a veterinarian, who found them unharmed despite the ordeal.

The decision took place in an emergency, with flames threatening her home and few options available. Her determination to keep the dogs with her, and the help of strangers below, allowed both animals to survive.

Millions Watched the Rescue

A video captured the rescue and spread across social media, gathering millions of views and widespread praise. Viewers were moved by Chui-Maningo's refusal to abandon her pets and by the courage required to get them to safety.

For many viewers, the footage reflected the close relationship between people and their animals. In the Philippines, pets are often considered part of the household. Chui-Maningo's explanation that the dogs were her family gave that bond a direct, personal meaning.

Chui-Maningo learned days later that the rescue had gone viral. She was overwhelmed by the attention and by support from strangers. Alongside that generosity, however, she discovered that people were using her images and experience for their own financial gain.

The events unfolded in this order:

• A fire broke out in Barangay Guizo, and Chui-Maningo dropped Miyah and Kayen to people waiting below. A veterinarian later found both dogs unharmed.
• Days later, Chui-Maningo learned that footage of the rescue had spread widely online.
• On December 15, the Mandaue City Council honored her during a regular session, with the Island Rescue Organization also attending.
• After discovering unauthorized donation appeals using her story, Chui-Maningo warned the public that the circulated GCash accounts were not hers.

Recognition for Courage and Compassion

Councilor Jennifer Del Mar commended Chui-Maningo's bravery and sound judgment during the December 15 council session. The council recognized her devotion to her dogs as an example of choosing compassion over fear.

Del Mar said Chui-Maningo's refusal to abandon Miyah and Kayen showed the sacrifices people make for family, whether human or animal. She described those values as worthy of public praise and as an example for the community.

Speaking during the council session, Del Mar explained why she believed Chui-Maningo deserved formal recognition:

The exemplary conduct by Chui-Maningo stands as a testament to civic responsibility and personal courage that are deserving of public recognition,

The council presented Chui-Maningo with a plaque acknowledging her actions. Representatives of the Island Rescue Organization supported the recognition and celebrated the dogs' survival with gifts and treats.

The occasion was intended to provide celebration and closure after a traumatic experience. Even while receiving those honors, Chui-Maningo was dealing with the distress of having her story used in deceptive appeals.

Donation Pages Used Her Photographs and GCash Numbers

Unknown individuals created social media pages and posts claiming to raise funds for Chui-Maningo. They used photographs from the fire and rescue to make the appeals appear genuine, then circulated GCash account numbers asking people to donate to the "fire victim."

GCash is a popular mobile wallet in the Philippines. In these appeals, the account number gave potential donors a destination for their money. Chui-Maningo said those accounts were not hers and that she had no relationship with the people running the pages.

Chui-Maningo distinguished between help freely offered to her and fundraising conducted in her name. She appreciated genuine generosity, but said she had never begged for money or authorized the solicitations.

In a public statement, Chui-Maningo thanked people who had helped voluntarily and asked those exploiting her photographs to stop:

I never asked for any financial help from anyone and only accept what is given to us willingly and voluntarily," Chui-Maningo said. "For those who helped, thank you. For those who have bad intentions, please stop.

No amount collected through the unauthorized appeals was given, and the people behind them were not identified. The immediate concern was that people wishing to assist her could instead send money to accounts she did not control.

Such fraud can spread quickly because it borrows a story that people already recognize and care about. A photograph of a real emergency makes an appeal feel familiar, while the identity of the person receiving the money can attract far less attention. By the time the person pictured discovers the misuse, those collecting donations may already have disappeared with the funds.

An Australian Adopter Lost $2,500

Animal welfare fraud also targets people hoping to adopt a pet. In Australia, Companion Animal Network Australia warned about fake rescue groups approaching potential adopters.

Trish Ennis, the organization's chief executive, said most rescue groups were ethical, while warning of a rise in scams that caused emotional distress and drained bank accounts. The warning concerned people exploiting the desire to give an animal a home.

Christine Jenkins, 78, lost $2,500 to a fake website called WoodPetsAU. She believed she was adopting a rescue dog named Milo, but the dog did not exist.

Jenkins was left feeling sick and foolish. Her experience shows the personal cost alongside the financial loss: she had expected a relationship with an animal and instead encountered a fabricated pet and a fraudulent transaction.

Fake adoption operators can invent an animal's identity and create a tragic backstory to explain why it cannot be met in person. Potential adopters are advised not to pay before seeing the pet in real life, or at least conducting a video call with the seller to check that the animal exists.

Staged Rescues and Impersonated Organizations

Fake animal rescue channels use another method: creating the danger that their videos appear to resolve. Investigations have uncovered channels that deliberately place animals in harmful situations and then film someone apparently saving them.

The creators can earn money from views and advertising, while viewers may also donate because they believe they are supporting genuine rescue work. Those contributions can end up financing further exploitation of the animals shown.

Animal rights activists have circulated lists of channels showing this kind of abuse. Warning signs include repeated videos of animals in dangerous situations without proper context or safety measures. The concern extends beyond fraud because animals are being harmed to produce entertainment.

Legitimate rescue organizations can also have their identities copied. In Claremore, Oklahoma, Okie Pet Rescue warned supporters about a fake Facebook account using its name.

The impersonating account sent messages asking people for donations. Okie Pet Rescue asked supporters to report the page to protect the organization's reputation and help ensure that contributions reached the animals actually in its care.

The Mandaue appeals, the nonexistent Australian dog, staged videos and the copied Oklahoma account all depend on trust built around animal welfare. One borrows a real person's experience, another invents an animal, another manufactures a rescue, and another adopts an established organization's name.

Checks Before Sending Money

Donors can start by asking who is collecting the money, who will receive it and how it will be spent. Genuine rescues and charity organizers are usually open about their work and finances, and willing to answer questions.

A page requesting money without explaining its intended use is a warning sign. Legitimate organizations commonly provide veterinary bills, supply receipts or a detailed breakdown of expenses. Fraudulent operators may become defensive or block people who ask for information.

Practical checks include:

• Ask for the name of the licensed veterinarian treating the animal and for copies of medical bills.
• Look for follow up photographs and updates showing the animal's recovery, rather than only distressing images used to seek donations.
• When an appeal names an individual, verify it through official channels or mutual friends before paying.
• Be cautious about requests for wire transfers, cryptocurrency or untraceable gift cards. Credit cards and secure payment platforms can offer more options for seeking help when a transaction goes wrong.
• Before paying to adopt a pet, meet the animal in person or at least arrange a video call with the seller.

Animal welfare advocates also warn about emotional pressure, such as claims that an animal will die that night unless money arrives immediately. Emergencies do happen, but legitimate organizations usually have procedures for responding and do not depend solely on pressure applied through social media comments.

Chui-Maningo's case makes direct verification especially useful. Someone seeking to help a named person needs to check that the person recognizes the appeal and that the payment destination belongs to the intended recipient.

Support That Reaches Animals

Legitimate animal welfare organizations still depend on public generosity. Checking an appeal allows donors to support that work while reducing the chance that their money goes to someone exploiting it.

Established charities with records of transparent finances and documented results offer a way to assess where contributions go. Greater Good Charities, for example, has high ratings from watchdog groups such as Charity Navigator and publishes detailed financial reports and program updates.

Its programs include funding shelter renovations, distributing pet food and providing money for emergency medical care. Financial information and updates help donors understand how contributions are being used.

People uncertain about an online request can give directly to a known shelter or visit a local facility. Local rescues often welcome food, blankets and towels as well as cash. Providing supplies directly removes an intermediary and puts the goods in the hands of those caring for the animals.

Chui-Maningo's rescue ended with Miyah and Kayen alive and unharmed. Her subsequent warning addressed a different danger: people using that survival story to mislead donors. She thanked those who genuinely helped while making clear that the fundraising accounts circulated in her name were not hers.

Her actions during the fire brought public recognition. Her response afterward gave supporters a concrete fact to check before sending money: whether an appeal was connected to the woman it claimed to help.

The Essentials

• Ei Mei Lee Chui-Maningo, 37, rescued Miyah and Kayen from a fire in Barangay Guizo, Mandaue City, by dropping them to people below.
• A veterinarian found both Pomeranians unharmed after the rescue.
• The Mandaue City Council honored her on December 15, and the Island Rescue Organization brought gifts and treats for the dogs.
• Unauthorized donation pages used her photographs and circulated GCash accounts that she said did not belong to her.
• Chui-Maningo said she never requested financial help and accepted only assistance offered willingly.
• Other animal welfare scams include nonexistent pets, staged rescue videos and accounts impersonating legitimate organizations.
• Donors can check veterinary records, spending details, recovery updates and the identity of the intended recipient before giving.
• Established charities such as Greater Good Charities provide financial information and program updates, while local shelters can receive money or supplies directly.