Table of Content
- Cruelty
- Ads in Craigslist’s “pets” section are a magnet for animal abusers, as these cases illustrate:
- Demand Justice for Three Dogs Who Died of Heatstroke—Urge DA to File Charges!
- Progress! New York Passes Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill, Banning Sale of Dogs, Cats, and Rabbits
- Get PETA Updates
- Frankfurt am Main Warnings and Dangers
- What can happen to a pet that is given free to a casual, uncommitted owner?
Though an inviting city, visitors should be aware of some warnings and dangers before traveling there. Do not create ads like this if you actually want people to contact you. If they can’t answer you with an answer that makes sense, either dig deeper or stop right there. Be sure to tell all of your friends, contacts and relatives. One of them might be passively looking for a new pet and they could decide to adopt yours. The more people see your pet, the higher the chance that you’ll create interest.
Ask if you can call their veterinarian to ask about vet history and always do a home check for a potential pet adopter. Check newspapers regularly and let people know what could happen to their pet and tell them how to prevent this avoidable situation. If your own pet has unwanted puppies or kittens, this isn’t the mother’s fault, it is your fault. Spay mom and if possible neuter dad to prevent anymore unwanted litters. PETA has asked Craigslist to implement a policy prohibiting “free to a good home” ads, but thus far the company has done nothing beyond posting a mild warning about giving away animals on its site. Please click here to urge Craigslist to ban these ads immediately.
Cruelty
If you do nothing else, at least take the time to make this one important phone call. Animal “collectors” have been known to respond to Free To Good Home ads with the sincere belief that they’re rescuing the animals. While they may have good intentions, these people collect more animals than they can property care for. As a result, they often live in squalor conditions without adequate food, water, or veterinary care. The investigation began after a cat named Leonard, who was allowed to roam outdoors without supervision, went missing.
Although Craigslist prohibits the sale of animals on its site, it still allows animals to be given away for free or via a small “re-homing” fee. When you are considering re-homing your pet please consider whether or not you absolutely need to do so. Upon adopting a pet, you take on the responsibility to provide that animal with love and to see to his or her needs for life.
Ads in Craigslist’s “pets” section are a magnet for animal abusers, as these cases illustrate:
If your pet is not already spayed or neutered, please have this done before placing it up for adoption. The adoption fee could cover the cost of the surgery. This could save your pet the anguish of falling victim to a puppy mill. Even if your dog is not intentionally bred, it could still contribute to pet overpopulation through accidental or unintentional breedings.
Earlier this year David Williford was arrested for getting free and low-cost pets from Craigslist, torturing and killing them, and then eating them. Some of the animals were starved to death and there were bones found all around his home. He was charged with twelve counts of animal cruelty against rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and dogs. Dog fighters will often target “free to good home” ads to find cats, kittens, puppies and submissive dogs that they will use as bait to train other dogs to be aggressive killers. Some larger dogs are trained to be fighters, as well, and if they lose a fight they are brutallypunishedandleft to die. In today’s disposable society, a person who’s willing to pay an adoption fee is indicating more serious interest than someone who takes an animal just because it’s free.
Demand Justice for Three Dogs Who Died of Heatstroke—Urge DA to File Charges!
Likewise, a couch potato dog wouldn’t be a good match for an active individual that’s looking for a hiking or jogging partner. You know your pet and can best determine if the adopter would be a good match. Remember to be realistic on the length of time it could take to find a new adopter.
Dealers pick up stray or free-roaming animals and even steal animals right out of their own backyards. They also procure “spent” dogs and cats from breeders and obtain animals who are advertised in “free to a good home” ads. Ask the person to sign a contract promising committing to provide the pet with a safe and loving home, adequate food, and veterinary care. If you’re in a position to take the animal back if the person changes his/her mind, include that as a stipulation. The most important step is to ask for a vet reference and then call the vet to verify that their current pets are properly cared for, vaccinated, on heartworm preventative, spayed/neutered, etc.
If you know of or see acts of animal cruelty, report it. If the animal was not spayed/neutered upon adoption, be sure to call their veterinarian at the appropriate time to see if the animal was spayed/neutered. If not, be sure to bring this up with the family on your call-back.
Most people have good intentions when they advertise a cat or dog as “free to a good home.” They care what happens to the animal and are not interested in making money. All they want to do is find a nice family that is willing to give the pet a loving, responsible home. The tragedy occurs when the animal is mistakenly put into a situation where it is neglected, abandoned, abused, or even sold for lab experimentation. Sadly, this sort of thing happens thousands of times each day across America. As much as we don’t want to believe it, there are disturbed people in the world who enjoy hurting helpless animals. These types of animal abusers will search for free animals on sites like Craigslist only to take pleasure in torturing and killing these animals.
An adoption fee can also indicate the person’s ability and willingness to spend money to meet the pet’s needs, whether they be medical, grooming, food, toys, etc. If you’re uncomfortable receiving money for your pet, you could donate it to a human organization or local shelter. Phelps also fooled Jennifer Chappell, who had rescued, bottle fed, and cared for 3 kittens. Chappell commented, “They went in a laundry basket everyday with me to work. He’s suspected in the torture and killing of additional cats.
They put on a good front and have a wonderful story about how they are all animal lovers and are looking for a new addition to the family. They will tell you whatever they think you want to hear. Cold hearted people will skim the Internet looking for free dogs, typically smaller breeds, to use as bait dogs to train their dog fighting dogs, or to train free dogs, like pit bulls, to become fighters. Dogs used to fight are neglected, beaten and often starved to make fighting dogs more aggressive, bait dogs weaker and broken. So now you have put much time, money, effort, and love into the animal, and you are going to give him/her to a total stranger? You can speak to them over the phone, or make a home visit.
They are kept in cramped kennels, often outside, and human contact is minimal. There is often no regular veterinary care and they are used purely as baby-making machines. Solid black and solid white cats are especially in danger at this time of the year. Cult members and vicious pranksters are on the lookout for animal victims. It is a common practice of most shelters and rescue organizations to never adopt out black or white cats during the Halloween season.
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