I’m all for getting “surrendered” pets off of online classifieds, but not people selling breeder pets ( I see a lot of 800-1000$ dogs on there). Yes, I also am in favour of getting animals from shelters, but where do you think these peoples pets are going to go if no one adopts them from craigslist? Straight to the SPCA, or worse, the pound. Also in my area there has been an outbreak of “stray” animals being found by the SPCA, which makes me think people are setting these unwanted pets free if they cant get rid of them from an ad. Two of my ferrets came from an ad, and two of them came from the SPCA, I consider them all rescues.

I’d call the advertiser and politely inform them of the dangers of “free to a good home” ads. I’d also contact the website owners, newspaper, etc. and ask them to ban these ads. Often times these animals don’t go to good homes and instead end up being used in experiments, resold, used as food for snakes, or abused.

Generally, the person who posted the ad genuinely wants the animal to go to a good home and will accept your advice (possibly removing the ad).

I don’t think it’s a good idea. Those people could be ANYONE.

@Rachel-S

I got my kittens from kijiji for free. Although they are definitely a target for abusers, I thought we weren’t supposed to buy animals. Besides, the kittens i got from kijiji went to a great home….

@Rachel-S What about the free barn cats at the ASPCA? Isn’t that kind of like a free to good home add? But aren’t they also mostly feral, and would get put down otherwise?

@Brosia, It’s totally fine, I get that.

@peacelovepie, I understand that my views may seem a little jaded. I work with various rescues, and am faced every day with the animals whose families “just couldn’t handle” them due to unexpected circumstances. They are the ones who are discarded when a new baby comes along, a new job is offered, a new partner moves in. I see too many people who would rather sacrifice their cat than their cable to make ends meet. I’m sorry if I offended you, I’m just giving the view I see.

@Brosia, I don’t think that’s really fair. A family friend gave us two cats to foster right when she was about to have her baby, and that was much more responsible than leaving them in that stressful time. My point is, it’s not written in black and white.

There is a lady on my local Craigslist that I’ve heard has some issues and has broken into people’s homes after she gives away cats that she has described as being completely different than they actually are, for example sick or older than advertised, etc.

Bad!! Animals on craigslist become targets for animal abusers I’ve seen pictures of dogs with only one eye after being “given to a loving home”… I hope that one day “Free pet” ads will before ever gone.

I would like to see “free pet” ads gone for good. They just make it easier for the sickos out there to get their hands on an easy victim.

However, I do think it’s okay, for the animal’s sake, to reply to one of these posts. I’ve even responded to the “must go today” ads in order to foster an animal to keep him/her from being put down.

This does not mean I approve of people who “have” to give up their animals for any reason. When you take in a companion animal, you are signing up for a lifelong responsibility. People who fail to live up to this standard get no sympathy from me.

I’m unsure of what I think about getting pets off these online classifieds. I am all for shelters and would NEVER buy any anima for one of these sites. But what do you think about free pets (because people are moving, other circumstances, etc)
I can never decide how I feel about this. Opinions?