To the editor:
While I have been involved in animal rescue the last couple decades, I have come across many horrors. There are many reasons and excuses why people give up their pets. There are good avenues to go through to make sure they continued to be safe and cared for. Ads saying “Free To A Good Home” and Craigslist are not safe for any animal. It is a death sentence and not a pleasant one.
“Free to good home” dogs and cats are easily obtained to become lab animals, dog fighting, baiting, smaller animals used as snake food, end up in puppy mills, and can end up in the home of a hoarder. Tragically there are animal abusers out there who spend time on the web looking for free animals. Pets aren’t products! Animals given away for free can, and unfortunately often do, meet gruesome fates.
As much as we don’t want to believe it, there are disturbed people in the world who enjoy hurting helpless animals. These types of animal abusers will search for free animals on web sites like Craigslist only to take pleasure in torturing and killing these animals. If you know of or see acts of animal cruelty, report it.
In an effort to prevent these sad situations from befalling any animal, animal protection organizations all over the United States work diligently to educate people about the proper procedure for placing animals. They frequently assist people in finding good homes for their animals. We routinely contact individuals who place “free to good home” advertisements to alert them to the potential perils for their animals and continuously receive appreciative calls from people who say “they never knew these dangers existed.”
While there is a certain level of checks that protect animals being given away online, it is always best to be aware of the danger that exists and ensure you avoid bringing harm to animals in any way you can. Please always do a home check/visit for any animal you are placing. Anyone who offers an animal up for adoption should personally visit the home of the potential guardian beforehand and follow up on the adoption later. Don’t advertise free pets. Do convince others not to.
Rose Reina-Rosenbaum
Hillsborough
