SAFELY REHOMING ANIMALS

 

 

There are a small handful of sleazy individuals

who look for free or cheap animals to

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1) Use as bait for dog fighting rings (see below)

 

2) Sell them for animal experimentation.

 

3)  Feed to snakes or alligators

(Smaller animals such as kittens, hamsters, rabbits, etc)

 

4)  Resell for a profit (Dog flippers)

 

5)  Use for breeding in puppy mill situations.

 

6)  Animal Sacrifice  (i.e.  Churches which practice animal sacrifice like Santera) .....someone who claims to be with this church has contacted individuals on Craigslist for their free animals. (Unfortunately, a Supreme Court  ruling protects this religious practice). Some Satanists also look for free animals, particularly kittens.

 

If someone can't show you their Drivers License as ID to verify their true identity, and doesn't want you to know where they live....... ..those are major red flags!    

 

Ask them if you can do a home check (difficult now in the Covid-19 situation, but you could drive by their residence....it should match the address on their ID) and/or ask for vet reference (i.e. vet they've used for a previous animal they've had).
 

Charge a small rehoming fee (minimum $75 - 100 for a dog and $20-25 for a cat) and keep the phone number of the adopter to check on your pet (verify that it is a permanent number) which should discourage some lowlifes.
 

Check their Facebook page.  It should not be recently created.  A real Facebook page will have multiple friends, pictures, postings, etc.

 

Someone who is really serious about adding a pet to their family, will also ask a lot of questions to see if they fit in to their household.  Someone who just wants to pick up a pet without asking any questions, is a red flag.  If someone is adopting kittens and wants them all (i.e. multiple pets from the same litter), raises another red flag.  

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Don't fall for the sob stories....many of them are made up to scam you and take your pet.  If someone can't afford to pay a small rehoming fee, then most likely they can't afford to take care of the animal properly.  Scammers can be men, women, or even someone coming with their kids.

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Below is from the Humane Society of the United States

 

People don't realize this, but dogfighters and pet flippers are very active in the U.S.    They seek out "free or cheap" dogs and cats to use as bait in dogfighting. These bait animals end up killed. Never offer a dog or cat for free or for a nominal fee and never offer an animal without checking references including a vet reference.

Report Dogfighting - $5000 Reward

To Report Dogfighting, Call 1-877-TIP-HSUS

 

Your identity will be protected

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https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/dogfighting

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https://catcountry1073.com/kittens-dog-fight-bait/

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https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-in-entertainment/cruel-sports/dogfighting/

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https://www.peta.org/features/free-good-home-death-despair-animals-craigslist

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