Why Using a 'Free to Good Home' Ad to Find a New Family for Your Pet is a Bad Idea.

[Cattledog]

While we wish this weren’t the case, here are a few things that you might want to consider before submitting that advertisement.

1. Cruelty
It can be difficult to discern the true motivations of the person to whom you are giving your pet. While they might appear to be the perfect candidate on paper, is that a risk you’re really willing to take?
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In 2012, Patricia Hervey was found guilty of scouring Craigslist for animals listed as “free to a good home,” and contacting guardians claiming that she ran a shelter. Hervey would then charge the pet parents a fee for “rehoming” their animals, house the claimed pets in filthy conditions and then shoot them.

2. Test Subjects
People known as “Bunchers,” collect groups of pets to sell to Class B dealers. These dealers are licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy and sell animals “from random sources” into research trials. Often times the dealers take the animals and transport them out of states. According to Save our Shepherds, “Almost every cosmetic, household, and chemical product is tested on animals, including former pets obtained from shelters and Class B Dealers. Veterinary schools and medical schools, and even some engineering schools use dogs and cats in classrooms and ‘research.’ Textile manufacturers who make products for medical use test and demonstrate on dogs, frequently retired racing greyhounds.”
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3. Breeders
Animals not spayed or neutered are often obtained by puppy mill owners to serve as breeding dogs. 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.

4. Bait
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 brutally punished and left to die. In a tragic recent incident, a female Pit Bull, Cabela, was purchased to serve as a fighting dog but was “too sweet-tempered” so her owners shot her and left her tied to the train tracks. Luckily, Cabela was rescued and is now in recovery.

5. Flippers
These people collect animals from freebie ads to resell for profit in flea markets and online ads. Their care is minimal are they are not vetted; they are seen as money-makers and nothing else. Additionally, these sellers take little interest in where they animals they “flip” end up, meaning another potential disaster for former pets.

6. Food
Free animals are sometimes obtained as food for pet snakes and even, at times, to be eaten by humans. 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.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/using-a-free-to-good-home-ad-to-find-a-new-family-for-your-pet-is-a-bad-idea/?fbclid=IwAR1Hb1_kqufIXsgjMYwYzNfkIVBqf67hoEPSpAASWbzz963BEeZ-JxJpLRY

[emmaverybo]

1. Excellent informative post. Unfortunately, I became aware that people troll ads for free pets and

commit heinous acts of cruelty on them. One of my college students trolled ads and also picked up free kittens and puppies at grocery store parking lots and garage sales, using them in ways I can not bring myself to write about.

The bait issue is huge; nice seeming people, say a man and his wife will present themselves at shelters even, and “rescue.” Free pets have been used in cruel frat pranks.
Everything you detailed is a true danger in rehoming pets for free.

Some well-intending folks will adopt free pets, but then find they do not have the resources or a stable living situation in which to care for them.

Always charge a re-homing fee. If possible, visit the home where your pet will live and see if your pet will be a good fit with any other pets, roommates, children.

Go online to see various rescue shelter policies so you can get an idea of how to vet prospective guardians.

[Stryst]

2. Huh

That explains some things. In the fancy rat world a minor rehoming fee is pretty standard. I wonder if that's a response to this sort of thing.

[Duppers]

3. K & R

CD, please cross-post this great info in the Lounge. Thanks!

[Irishxs]

4. I totally, 100% agree.