"FREE   TO   GOOD   HOME"   MAY   COST

YOUR   PET   THEIR   LIFE!

            " I need to move and can't find a place that will take dogs, I'll just put a "free to good home" ad in the newspaper, I'm sure someone wonderful will take him!"

            "How dare those rescue groups charge for those animals! "?

            Do you know what happens to many animals that are placed through "Free to Good Home" ads? Here is just a sample:

            k "Bunchers" gather free pets until they have enough to make a trip to a lab worthwhile, then they sell them at $25.00 to $100.00 per animal for experimentation.

k Puppy millers take unspayed/unneutered pure bred dogs and use them as "breeding stock" to live out their lives in wire cages, endlessly breeding until they die or can no longer be bred, when they are put to death.

k People who fight pit bulls and other dogs use them "blood" the fighting dogs- to train their fighting dogs how to kill and enjoy it.

k Smaller dogs and cats and kittens and puppies may be used as dinner for a pet snake, or even by some people.

            Of course no one is going to come knocking on your door and tell you what they are going to do with your beloved pet. They come by, often times with children in tow, and tell you how much they have always wanted a dog/cat like this and that they will give it a great home, but how will you really know?  You won't.

            It’s a simple fact of life that people value what they pay for. Pets that are obtained for free are less likely to be spayed or neutered by their new owners or to receive vaccination or veterinary care (why bother with vet bills on something that was free?).  They are also more likely to be abused and /or discarded because "there are plenty more where that one came from". A recent study at one animal shelter revealed startling statistics: 51% of the dogs that had been surrendered by their owners were purchased for less than $100.00. Of those, 41% of all owner-surrenders had been obtained "Free to Good Home". On average, less than 10% of dogs who are turned in to shelters by their owners find new homes, the rest are euthanized within days.

            Rescue groups have procedures in place to "screen" prospective new owners. Applications are filled out, home checks are done, and contracts are signed. With purebred dog rescue, the group also provides support and guidance for the new pet owner and keeps in contact with the new home. Reputable rescue groups will always take a dog back if the new home is unable or unwilling to care for it, assuring that your beloved pet does not end up at in a research facility or worse.

            If you need to find a new home for your dog or cat, please locate a reputable rescue organization in your area and relinquish the animal to the "professionals". Look for "Free to Good Home" ads in your local newspaper and pass this information on to people who might not know the dangers.  Be an advocate for those who can't speak for themselves, and together we can make a difference!

This flyer courtesy of "PugSavers….to the Rescue".