"Free to a Good Home"

You see it all the time in newspapers and on classified ad web sites like Craigslist…

“FREE TO A GOOD HOME”
4 year old Lab
Great with kids
Moving…can’t keep
Call 555-555-5555

Someone calls about the dog and makes arrangements to them. He brings his kid who has always wanted a dog and now seems like a great time for one!

So, what’s the problem?

The dog’s owners may be giving their pet to a wonderful father and his little boy…or, they could be turning their dog over to dog fighters or to “bunchers” posing as a father and taking a kid along as a prop. It happens and it happens every day with cats and dogs.

Dog fighters steal pets or get their pets from unwitting dog owners who post their pets in classified ad sections. Sadly, these dogs are used as bait for fighting dogs. Bait dogs and losing fighters are often just dumped in rivers or unpopulated areas and new ones picked up.

Class B Dealers are licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to buy animals from “random sources” (meaning animals not bred or raised on the dealers’ property) and sell them to animal research facilities for biomedical research, testing, and educational purposes. Such random sources for dogs and cats include auctions, flea markets, or animal shelters. Get a Fact Sheet about Class B Dealers.*

Bunchers are unlicensed but also collect animals from “random sources” such as “Free to a Good Home” ads, shelters, strays, and dog or cat owner’s own yards. Bunchers often sell these pets to Class B Dealers or directly to research facilities.

To limit the risk of having your dog or cat fall into the wrong hands:

• Never place a “Free to a Good Home Ad” on a web site or in a newspaper.
• Exhaust every avenue to keep your pet with you. If you are giving your pet to someone you don’t know, visit the home (be sure to put your own safety first) or investigate to make sure the new owner is who you think they are.
• Don’t let your pet roam free in the neighborhood. Keep your pet on a leash when walking him.
• Don’t let your pet be visible from the street. Put a padlock on your gate to your backyard to further ensure their safety.
• Never leave pets unattended at any time.
• Never leave pets outside a store or in the car to wait for you.
• Keep identification on your pet at all times – tags, microchips, and/or tattoos.

*Humane Society of the United States