Craigslist is a classified advertisement website similar to what is found in newspapers. Craigslist has sections devoted to almost everything you can imagine and used by people worldwide. What I find disturbing is allowing pets to be “rehomed.”
Every day you can view an array of animals looking for a new home. You aren’t allowed to sell a pet on this site. With a small “rehoming” fee, you can rid yourself of your pet and send it on his/her way to a complete stranger. Sadly, a large number of pets are given away for free.
Animal shelters/rescues work on a similar premise. Dogs, cats and critters are routinely adopted by virtual strangers every day. The difference is the adopters are required to fill out a contract. Depending on the shelter or rescue, all contracts are not the same.
On Craigslist, there is no such contract and no regulations put in place. People only need to contact the person and in a blink of an eye, a family will no longer have a pet and someone else – a complete stranger- will possess this confused pet.
There are proponents of rehoming pets on Craigslist. Instead of surrendering a pet to a shelter that is forced to euthanize animals, people can easily find others to take their once beloved pet. Proponents say they have an easy time finding someone to take their pets.
How can anyone know where their pet is truly going when rehoming it on this site? Once the pet leaves their possession, that animal belongs to someone else. This is what has animal advocates angry and scared. There have been cases where people have collected animals from Craigslist. Multiple cases involve torturing and killing the collection of pets they acquired via Craigslist.
Jeffrey Nally (below) Jeffrey Nally Jr. “mutilated, skinned [mostly puppies],” Hancock County police say. “Anything you can imagine, [using] everything from a crossbow, to a drill, saws to hammers.” Nallly tortured and killed 29 dogs he collected through the classfied ads.
Some Cragislist buyers are known as “flippers.” This is a person who buys animals from Craigslist and “resells/rehomes” the animals for a profit. Sometimes, they claim the animals were surrendered to him/her and are looking for a good home. While this isn’t as bad as the former cases, it still involves deceptive practices.
One case involved three-day old puppies being sold for $100 each. It turns out the mother was stolen.
There is no oversight or regulations when it comes to rehoming pets on Craiglist. In 2009, the site permanently removed the adult erotic section because it involved prostitution and human trafficking. The section was changed to adult services with the site closely monitoring each poster.
How can we forget the Craigslist killer? Philip Markoff met his victims via Craigslist. He would rob them and eventually was charged with the murder of Julissa Brisman. Despite proclaimng his innocence, Markoff committed suicide in jail while awaiting trial in 2010.
Animal advocates want Craigslist to eliminate the pets section entirely. There are petitions calling for the end of this unsavory practice.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/107/898/445/demand-an-end-to-selling-dogs-on-craigslist/
I’m aware there are people who have found great pets on Craigslist who are now part of a loving family. I find they are few and far between cases.
The thought of placing an ad for a pet of mine on this site makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge. I, for one, would never give away any of my pets. Once in my care, they are my responsibility for the rest of their lives.
I personally don’t know how anyone would willingly give their pets to a stranger and not know where a member of their family is going or how it’s being treated. Despite some successes, advertising your pet on this site could easily lead your pet to a life of torture and even death. One could make the argument when you surrender your pet to a shelter or a rescue, you don’t know what happens to your pet. With a shelter, you must fill out an application and go through the adoption process which is void with Craigslist.
Craigslist was created to make people aware of event happenings. It has grown into a site where it appears anything can be sold or bought for a price.
Selling inaminate objects is one thing. Dealing with human or animal lives is a completely different story. Not having regulations to protect innocent lives sounds illegal but clearly isn’t.
What country do we live in? It’s time for a change and that change has to be now.
For those determined to rehome a pet on Craigslist, here are some tips that have been suggested:
- Meet in person with potential new owners.
- Do a reference check to see if the person is employed and may have a pet in their home.
- Visit your pet’s new home to see what type of environment it will be and to see if the whole family is on board with the pet adoption. Check to see if the new home is safe? Will your dog have a yard or someplace to walk? What is the family interaction like?
- If the person has a pet, talk with their veterinarian to see what type of care they provide or provided for their pet.
- Ask for a rehoming fee to put value on your pet and to see if this person can afford a pet and is willing to do what it takes to own a pet.
Do you think rehoming of pets should be allowed on Craigslist?
Nice post )
Thank you for writing this. I try to explain this to friends and they don’t get it. Maybe reading this will help them to understand.
You actually expressed how I’ve felt about Craigslist for a long time. I try to notify people who are giving away pets for free what could happen. Some get it and some don’t want to hear it.
NO! They shouldn’t allow rehoming or the sale of animals. Your dealing with living creatures not objects. This needs to be illegal!
Craigslist is most certainly bears responsibility. I’m surprised that the authorities haven’t shut the pet section down considering how many animals have died at the hands of those “rehoming” pets. How could anyone consider placing their pet on this site knowing the facts? Still proves we live in a disposable society. It’s heartwrenching.
Craigslist removed erotic/adult services after a woman was killed. What will it take to remove the pet section. Too many animals have already died. Craigslst has no business with the rehoming of pets.
Craigslist is a dangerous place. Placing ads for pets shoudn’t be allowed. I hate seeing all the ads for free pets. I don’t know what people are thinking. Don’t they understand what can happen to them. Unscupulous people search this site for free pets. They get money for getting alot for different reasons including research labs, even target shooting.
A woman confessed to killing 22 men found on Craigslist. They need to be held accountable by stopping the publishing of services or selling pets. There is no adoption. They use the word rehome which is a fancy word for selling.
The people who really upset me are the flippers and back yard breeders. There’s little pretense- people are selling animals for profit regardless of what that claim their costs are in raising (?) these animals. It’s easy to understand why someone would get an animal for free of for some lower price, $100, then turn around and sell it for $150-$250 or breed it if it’s not neutered.
On the other hand, most shelters are filled with animals that have been neglected, abused, or are medically unfit. It takes a long time to find a good pet and a welcome addition to your household.
It’s not the pets nor Craigslist- it’s the lousy people trying to make a quick buck.
Craigslist is THE catalyst for people to gain unbelievable easy access to innocent animals. Something truly needs to be done BUT it starts with society.people w/ serious mental disorders can use this site to maim or kill these innocent gifts from god. I was one of those people . I carry this extremely heavy weight on my head as I @ the time, saw no other way out . I was gripped in the middle of a horribly downward spiral mentally and as a result I face a heavy heavy criminal charge. I want EVERYONE to know how extremely sorry to am for what I did 3 years ago. I have 2 precious dogs that I would defend to the death of someone tried to harm my babies. Cats, however, beard the full brunt of my mental disorder. I am currently in so.e very heavy therapy with a therapist, a psychiatrist, as well as anti psychotic meds. I am a completely different person now and I know the warning signs. We,as a so into, need to put MUCH more emphasis on mental health , in particular bipolar disorder. I have NEVER hurt a living being prior to my 4 month episode of finding no / harming cats/ kittens. There is NOTHING anyone can say to or about me that I haven’t called myself. The only difference is that I AM facing this AS A MAN and will do whatever the court system tells me to do. Please , if ANYONE suspect to their loved ones to be in a depressed state of mind , PLEASE intervene. I can only shine how many cats could have been spared if someone would have just ratted me out. Know the warning signs. Get educated, then maybe we ALL can shirt Craigslist down FOR GOOD!!
R, Thank you for your brutal honesty. I know that was not easy to write. I’m glad you are getting the help you need. You made the valid points as to why Craigslist should be taken down. This may be too much to ask but I hope you will share what what happens in court so others know what they will be facing. Please continue with the help you are getting.
Thank you for sharing your very difficult story.
Tina
Very useful advice within this article! Craigslist should ban people from selling their pets. It’s been proven that abusers will get their victims from Craigslist. They torture and kill them for their own sick, twisted enjoyment. Please don’t sell your pet on this site.