Why You Must Never Give Pets For Free
64When people can no longer care for a pet,
or if their pets have had babies that they cannot care for,
many people opt to place an ad in a newspaper or website advertising the unwanted animals
as "free to a good home".
While intentions are usually good in these situations, we strongly advise against this approach.
"Free" is all too often seen as "worthless" in the eye of the beholder.
Pets obtained for free are are less likely to be spayed or neutered by their new owners (why bother with vet bills?),
and more likely to be abused and/or discarded,
because "there are plenty more where that came from!"
A recent study at one animal shelter yielded the startling statistic that 41% of all owner-
surrendered dogs had been obtained "Free to good home."
This is how some people see your "free" loved one:
Free snake food.
Free animal for malicious pranks.
Free animal to set on fire or insert a firecracker into.
Free to breed indiscriminately.
Free animal to hoard and neglect.
What Is A "Buncher?"
A buncher either steals or "adopts" companion animals for the purpose of selling the animal. Bunchers can sell animals for one or more of the following reasons:
To be used in research labs To be used as bait to train dogs in fighting rings or hunting dogs To be used as breeding stock in puppy or kitten mills
"Bunchers" can be very deceptive and they prey on people who place "free to good home" ads. They will sometimes use children as part of the ploy and present themselves as a "perfect" family. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
What To Do If You Must Give Your Pet Away
If you absolutely must place the animal yourself, please be sure to read the HSUS Guidelines For Finding a Responsible Home For Your Pet to learn ways you can help ensure the person you are releasing your animal to is truly willing and capable of caring for your pet, and be sure to use the animal cruelty database to check for prior convictions of animal cruelty. Helpful Tips:
1. Don't advertise "Free pet"
2. Spay/neuter the animal to avoid attracting backyard breeders or puppy mill operators
3. Charge at least $25 to discourage resale of pets to labs and others
4. Ask each prospective owner for his/her veterinarian's name as a reference and check it.
5. Ask for identification in the form of a photo I.D. Write down the information, or scan/photocopy it if possible
6. Ask for a phone number and explain that you'd like to check on how the animal's doing. An honest person will gladly share the information with you.
7. Have the person sign an "adoption" contract concerning your pet stating that they will not go to research. Having this in writing gives you legal recourse.
8. Ask to visit the place where your pet will live before your release the pet to the new owner.
9. Don't assume because someone brings their wife or children that they are honest and will give your pet a good home. There are documented case in which "brokers" brought their children with them when collecting animals so that they would look "legitimate".
10. If time is of the essence and you must leave your pet, please take it to a reputable public or private NO-KILL shelter rather than give it away free to someone you don't know anything about.
Unlike selling a used care or appliance, finding a home for your beloved pet is an emotional as well as practical experience. If you act with your heart and avoid acting in haste, you'll be headed in the right direction.
Contact
Pet-Abuse.Com
PO Box 5, Southfields, NY 10975
888-523-PETS
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This is just terrible. I don't know why ANYONE would want to be cruel to animals :/
I feel bad sometimes when I look through Craigslist.com advertisements and people will title ads "FREE FREE FREE" or something like that.
Dear RemmieRat4ever:
I totally understand how you feel! I've been e-mailing those people and rarely do I get positive respond. Some thought it's absurd, that I was all about money, cursed me and told me to mind my own business. But they haven't seen the reports and photos I've seen so I will continue to spread the word. Help me!
Yes watch craigslist for people wanting free animals I hear about people's animals getting eaten or fed to other pets. I don't get people these days. I run a pet store and love to educate people on proper care.
I posted a link to this page on craigslist. More people need to read this stuff.
Dear caninecrtitics:
Please post this on your petstore. It can save a pet who may otherwise be tortoured for who knows how and for how long!
This was the first cat at age 50 that showed up on my door step. I have been unemployed for over two years and have had to move several times, ,although, at the new place I cannot have cats. Unbeknown to me I posted Free on Craigs, I didn't get any call but I changed my listing after reading this. Thank you, we are not all cruel just uneducated, thank you for educating me.
AWW and OH MY LORD AS A FORMER ANIMAL RESCUER MYSELF THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND BELIEVE YOU ME I HAVE SEEN SOME PRETTY DISTURBING SITES!
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BARBARIC !!!!!
EVERY YR MILLION OF PETS HAVE TO BE HUMANELY EUTHANIZE DUE TO NOT HAVING A LOVING HOME FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF ALL THEIR NEEDS INCLUDING SPAYING . NEUTER!
SO MANY PPL DO CARE BUT FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT CAUSE NOTHING BUT HEART WRENCHING LIVES FOR THEIR PETS!! ITS SO NEEDLESS ALSO AND CRUEL AND NEEDS TO STOP!
SOME PPL ARE UN EDUCATED AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS AND THEIR WELL BEING TRY TO EDUCATE OTHERS..
IGNORANCE IS DIFF FROM BEING DOWN RIGHT CRUEL.. THO EITHER DOES NOT HELP THE PET!
PLS PLS SHARE THIS CLIP AS GRAPHIC AS IT MAY BE ITS THE REAL DEAL!!
GOD BLESS ALL THE ANIMALS THAT HAVE NO VOICE N KEEP THEM I PRAY!!
Why does that Lil beagle still look alive ?? it looks as if its half asleep the way its head is up?? Lord have mercy on them all!
Greatlife 23 months ago
The pictures are disturbing. This is a great gesture to write a hub and raise awareness against pet abuse. Animals are a vital part of ones family today and they should be treated likewise.