Up-date About Craigslist Issue And What You Can Do

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I did a discussion about how Craigslist openly has ads about letting people display ads to adopt out pets they no longer want..and "free to a good home" type thing..I had included the issue that a man in Texas had adopted three cats via Craigslist only to torture, mutilate and kill those cats... The whole discussion is here..and remember if you haven't signed the petition,please do so at the link I give there http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/1304627.aspx Well I actually emailed both Mr. Jim Buckmaster (CEO of Craigslist) and Craig Newmark....I haven't heard from Mr.Buckmaster, but I have heard from Mr. Newmark...I include his reply...which isn't much but I also include my email to him...I've zapped out some of my personal info here (Craig Newmark's email back to me and mine:) I'm having a really hard time parsing all this, but you're right, there's a big issue there, with no good answers. We're getting conflicting advice from lots of people. Mostly.. if you see an ad that's shaky, please flag it for removal. Clint, other advice? Thanks! Craig On Mon, 15 Oct 2007, (deleted as had my name) wrote: Dear Mr. Craig Newmark: Not long ago, I received an e-mail about the story of a man from San Antonio, Texas who was was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals for allegedly torturing, mutilating, and the killing three cats that he obtained via Craigslist. Since I've never have had the occasion to look at any of the "pet" sections on Craigslist I never took note of the postings/activities that are listed there, until just now. I did a quick search for the various listings under pets, not only in New York, but California...even Las Vegas, Nevada! I found numerous ads for kittens/cats, puppies/dogs by their owner who can no longer keep their pet(s) for a variety of reasons...See this example here from your Las Vegas, Nevada listing, at this link: http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/pet/450176560.html Time and time again, as I went through the listings, I was shocked as to how many pets are listed with Craigslist with the concept that these pets are free to a "good home". Granted, maybe and I pray that some of these pets do find good homes, but the problem is, that there is no way of knowing the credibility of the adopter of the animal may be as there are many who take in "free" pets for less than perfect circumstances. I personally know many pet rescuers and they have all told me horror stories of what actually goes on in the "pet world". They have told me about people who "adopt" not only free pets, but even pets whose former owner may charge a minimal fee, only to turn around and sell these animals to labs for experimentation and testing, as they can receive a minimum of $300 for the animal. They have told me that often animals may also be adopted for the purposes of using them as "bait" for dogs who are used in dog fights. Or, as in the case of this man from Texas who used the cats for his own sick and twisted purposes by torturing killing the cats he obtained via Craigslist. To my mind, Mr. Newmark, I don't think any animal should be so easily obtainable for adoption via any internet website, unless of course, it is through a certified pet rescuer and /or shelter such as those that are listed by Petfinder.com or Pet-Ark.com. Even a common website, such as E-bay will not sell or auction off any pets on their site. Therefore, how are any of us to know, including yourself the fate of any animal that is listed up for adoption on Craigslist? Please implement a policy prohibiting any ads that give animals away whether for free and/or for a small fee. Please put an end to all ads of any kind for any animal adoptions on Craigslist. Animals in particular adopted through "free to good home" ads are often placed in extremely dangerous circumstances, where they are neglected, abused, and, in some cases, killed. The entire article/story about this Texas man and his torturing and killing of the cats is here at this link, if you will please kindly read in its entirety http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/metro/stories/MYSA091807.01B.AnimalCruelty.33ca53b.html I do hope you will give serious consideration to ending any ads for pet adoptions. I have alerted this story to a worldwide discussion forum, and am encouraging many who are animal lovers to also communicate my message to you to cease listing any pet adoptions on Craigslist. Thank you. Sincerely, (my name deleted) ---------------------- So big deal..he's suggesting that one "flags" such ads...okay...if that what it takes will do...I included my email to him, since if any of you want to use it as a email to personally email either Mr. Buckmaster or Mr. Newmark you can.... If you want their email addresses and/or address (for snail mail) PM me and I'll give it to you.