"FREE TO GOOD HOME" CRAIGSLIST~​​REPOST PLEASE!

Reposted With Thanks to: 
Kindness of Strangers for the Earth & Animals

If you care anything at all about an animal you are trying to give away or sell.

PLEASE, NEVER advertise this animal on Craigslist.

'Free to a good home' Craigslist


To all 'free to a good home' dog placers:


For years, those of us that work in animal rescue have known that the outcome for 'free dogs' has been a roll of the dice. Regardless of the breed, there is a huge potential that these dogs end up in less than loving homes. We in rescue all have that same sinking feeling when we see these ads because we KNOW what can happen and we see it everyday.

It is a wives tale that only Pit Bulls are used in dog fighting rings. Many times, mixed breed, purebred, small or large, are used as 'bait dogs.' Even cats are sometimes used to build up the confidence of a potential fighter. Often times, their ears are removed (so they are not ripped off in the ring) their teeth are filed down (so they can't cause damage) or even their muzzles are duct taped so they cant fight back at all.

I cringe when I see these ads, 'free to a good home' By what definition is a good home? Only recently, in the mid-west, we discovered an elderly couple responding to these ads only to find that these animals were in fact going to fighting rings.

In light of Turtle making the news this morning:

http:​/​/​www.​myfoxboston.​com/​dpp/​news/​local/​pitbull-​injured-​in-​possible-​dog-​fighting-​ring

I would like to encourage all of you that have made the decision to re-home your pet, to work with a reputable rescue in your area. If that is not possible, please use 'our' guidelines in making the decision as to whom is getting your dog:

YES, there is an adoption fee. people tend to take better care of a purchase and it holds more value than 'free'

We check at least 2 personal references
We call the Animal Control in the adopters town and make sure that there are no prior offenses. Additionally, in the case of PitBulls, German Shepherds, etc., we make sure that the town does not have ordinances that prohibit certain breeds. Or in multiple dog homes how many does the town allow?
We call the adopters veterinarian and make sure that any existing animals in the house are healthy and current on vaccines.

AND WE DO HOME CHECKS

Many times, rescues will work WITH you while your pet stays safe in your home. We do the leg work, we field potential applicants, and even introduce your animal to any that are already living in the potential adopters homes. As most rescues are non profit, again, a small donation is appreciated for their work in helping you.

Believe me, we would rather do this than find your pet in a shelter on death row, infested with fleas, heartworm positive, wounded, or simply discarded because of inconvenience. We would RATHER see you now, than find a Turtle in the woods near death. A dog that will require months of physical and emotional rehabilitation by a rescue that has the room in one of their foster homes.

Dogs like Turtle are found EVERYDAY and are rarely if ever adopted out to the public. They require a huge amount of resources and often times, there is no room in rescues for lack of foster homes qualified to take them.

For whatever reason, you have made the decision to re-home your pet. I am not criticizing that decision, I simply am asking that you take the time to ensure the safety of your pet.

Remember, Turtle was disposable. she was probably 'free'
Maybe she was yours?



A severely wounded and hypothermic dog, believed to be a "bait dog" used to test other dogs' fighting instincts, was found abandoned and motionless near a busy Hyde Park road Monday night, according to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

The dog, a female pit bull around 3 years old, was found by an animal control officer, curled in a ball and shivering with open wounds all over it, next to Smithfield Road near Turtle Park Parkway around 10:30 p.m. Monday