Dog Community

Craigslist has just made me so mad!

Posted : 7/16/2006 1:41:17 PM

So, if any of you browse craigslist for your city, I am sure you have seen the war zone that the "pets" section has become. There are people selling pups, flaggers deleting their posts, people lashing out against other people, etc.

Well, I was browsing the general "free" section, under things for sale, and there are at least *10* "free" dog/puppy ads in the last 5 or 6 days. And that is not counting the pets section.....
So...
I posted a warning, that goes like this:

______________________________________________________________________
The perils of offering a dog/puppy for free

This is an open message to all people offering dogs for free...

This is very dangerous! There are a number of ways that your dog could be in danger....

1. Someone that fights dogs will jump on a dog to put in a pit that is no cost to them.
2. Anyone will jump on a free dog offer. They may not have the financial capabilities of caring for a dog, but will take it because "Hey, its free!" I understand that for some reason you need to get rid of your dog, but NEVER offer it for FREE!
3. IMPULSIVE people will take a dog in if its free, but may not have thought it all out first. You don't want your loved one to end up in many homes, or worse yet, neglected, because some impulsive person took because its FREE!

PLEASE, screen the people you are adopting to. VISIT their home, charge a fee, ask for references, vet records, etc.

For those of you that have pure bred dogs, contact a breed rescue (mastiff, lhasa apso). They will be better off there. Breed rescues are very knowledgeable about their said breed, and have the resources to care for an unwanted dog until they find the PERFECT home for it.

PLEASE RETHINK YOUR OFFER!
_____________________________________________________________________________________

As a loving dog owner, I think that this is a legitimate warning/attempt at educating the public that was not harsh or mean, just truthful. Look at it as a plea rather than an attack....

WELL, it was flagged and removed in a matter of minutes!
ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I reposted it..... we will see what happens.

Amanda

Posted : 7/16/2006 2:01:36 PM

I agree with you. Sometimes giving away a dog can mean a very dangerous life ahead for the dog. I personally think that if a person truly wants a dog and can take care of a dog, they won't mind actually paying for the dog.

olinda

Posted : 7/16/2006 2:14:28 PM

I applaud you. [sm=clapping%20hands%20smiley.gif] It makes me mad too, whenever I see those ads anywhere.

Melissa Camiel

Posted : 7/16/2006 2:21:47 PM

Good for you. I can't think of why someone would just give away a dog without knowing anything about the people. [:@]

alieliza

Posted : 7/16/2006 2:28:46 PM

I got an email in response to my post saying:

[font="times new roman"][size=3]"sometimes people can't afford tp buy one or pay enormous adoption fees, but can afford to feed and love them.[/size][/font]
don't generalize." I responded with "paying a small adoption fee is nothing compared to what it will cost to actually own the dog."

**not to mention that "loving" a dog does not cost a penny, and feeding it is only the tip of the iceberg.

Monique Danielle

Posted : 7/16/2006 3:34:55 PM

I think a nominal fee is appropriate. We were in a sitatuation where two of our dogs could not function well together. We tried everything, but one who was somewhat neurotic, was clearly suffering due to emotional bullying from his sibling. We kept his sibling becasue overall he was better adjusted. The details of that are for another time....

Anyway, we decided that it would be the best interest of the suffering dog to go to a new home where he would be the only dog. He was a fantastic dog, but we knew that it was unfair to him to keep him in the current situation.

I placed an ad in that thrifties section of the local news paper with a fee of $50. He came with all his shots, fully trained, dog kennel, dog crate, leash, toothbrush, toys and much more. The ad made it clear that we were looking for a good home. When people called me I made it clear to them that they had to 'cut the mustard' and pass a home inspection in order have the honor of adopting our dog. We had several calls, some from folks who clearly were not suitable. Finally we got a call from a nice family about an hour away. We drove out to their home, inspected the house, met all family members, asked lots of questions, and agreed that we would come back a second time to finalize the adoption. The dog, Bagira, is still with them, and quite happy. He follows the woman of the house around all day long.

Margaret Tyler

Posted : 7/16/2006 3:47:12 PM

My father used to be the president of the National Animal Control Association. For a while he worked in Dade Co. Florda to help with dog fighting problems. He tells me some horrific stories of dogs and cats being put in burlap bags and hung from trees like a pinata so the fighting dogs could "get the taste of blood."

I worry that my little baby will be stolen out of my back yard for this. It would be alot easier for someone to just take if for "free" from someone just giving the poor little thing away.

And your right. If they can't afford a $50 adoption fee than they can't afford caring for the dog. Duh[:@]

alieliza

Posted : 7/16/2006 8:17:02 PM

I was flagged and removed again.

Someone emailed to say "I can pay an adoption fee, but I won't."

Ugh.

I worry for animals.

Xebby

Posted : 7/16/2006 8:30:27 PM

Whats even harder is the people who give these free puppies away don't really care about the pup. I got Gizmo for free but she was abondended and just left on my neighboors doorstep. She was still too young to be given away and my neighbor was just going to call the shelter to pick her up. It was obvios the original owner knew nothing about dogs. I still wish I knew who did that.

I think it's just as simple as these breeder don't care about the fate of their puppies. Then to have someone stand up and tell them to actuly care about the pups... I think their idea is just to get rid of the things as fast as they can. They didn't want them to beguin with and so now the pups have no value to them. It's sad but these people just don't think the same way about dogs the way most of us her do.

meilani

Posted : 7/16/2006 8:47:31 PM

Sweet Jesus almighty. If you can't afford an adoption fee, which can be as low as $35 in some places, then you don't need a dog. A dog is a luxury not a necessity. A long time ago, I placed dogs that I found/given in new homes. I charged $100 for a spayed/neutered, vaccinated dog. I charged that price as a way to recoup veterinary costs. Anyone who balked at the price or asked me to lower it was crossed off my list. $100 was a reasonable adoption fee and if a person has a problem with that then it made me wonder what else they'd balk it when it came to the maintenance of a dog. Luckily, I had no problem placing these dogs with loving families who had no problem at all paying the fee I asked.

alieliza

Posted : 7/16/2006 8:48:56 PM

Yes, I find it very sad that these are pets that are being placed somewhere else for whatever reason. They have lived with their owners for x amount of time, and now they are offering them for NOTHING to god knows who.

dasher

Posted : 7/17/2006 4:43:26 AM

Argh, that is so frustrating to hear!! Good for you alieliza for posting waht you did, I think that was something that needed to be said. An adoption fee is completely legit. Even if the person adopting out their animal decides to waive the "fee" after screening the applicant, the ad itself will weed out any rif raf. I too feel for those pets. So sad.

tashakota

Posted : 7/17/2006 12:05:01 PM

Ya know, I would add that you do a Google name search on whoever the potential adopter is. We found our foster, Pepper, a home by someone who responded to the add. We had her come visit our house. We took Pepper over to their place to check out their living arrangements. Talked about care and costs, etc. This is the dog that costs us a minimum of $100 a month in medications, not including food, toys, vet, etc.

After leaving Pepper with them for a month, we found out this woman was on charges for child abuse. Leaving mentally challenged children, in the bathtub(empty) duct taped hands and feet!!!! We got our dog back after that and officially adopted her. We finally acknowledged our failure at Foster 101.

alieliza

Posted : 7/17/2006 9:41:17 PM

Oh man Tashakota, what a horrid person, and a sad sad story... (although Im glad it had a happy ending.)

It is so important, but some people, for some reason, are too hard headed to get it.