Rescuing through craigslist?

[DvlshAngel985]

I was wondering what experiences people have had. I saw an ad on craigslist for a 5 month old yorkie with a rehoming fee. I contacted them and it sounded like the owner just didn't have time anymore, which breaks my heart. In her original e-mai she said it would be $500 for him and all his things. I wrote back asking questions about the pup without getting a response for days. So I e-mailed back and the price had gone up. WAY UP.
I know that a lot of people can no longer keep their pets due to the housing crisis and I thought I could give a needed pup a new home. But I never expected to be had!
Could it be that I'm over reacting?

[Smarty Bones]

You're not over-reacting at all. People like that purposely do not post the "rehoming fee" b/c craiglist specifies that such a fee not be excessive (eg under $100). My experience in responding to dog ads on craiglist so far has been that often people (BYB?) are selling, and not really "rehoming" a pet. No doubt there are people genuinely needing to rehome, and they are usually frank in posting the fee. A separate group of people are just looking to recoup their costs after they've spent a lot and don't want to deal with the hassles of raising a puppy. As they'd never part with their animal for free to a rescue or low cost rehoming, these people make me really concerned for the welfare of the unwanted pup until the "ransom" is paid. While it's understandable to want to recover some costs, I think it's dishonest to do so on craigslist when the forum states that the rehoming fee is essentially to ensure you are getting serious reponses from people able to care for the dog. Beware of some sellers who are reluctant to tell you much more that "he has all his shots" b/c many dogs are also often stolen and sold on craigslist. I like to think the best of people, but in this one area I've really become a cynic

[vviccles1]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I was wondering what experiences people have had. I saw an ad on craigslist for a 5 month old yorkie with a rehoming fee. I contacted them and it sounded like the owner just didn't have time anymore, which breaks my heart. In her original e-mai she said it would be $500 for him and all his things. I wrote back asking questions about the pup without getting a response for days. So I e-mailed back and the price had gone up. WAY UP.
I know that a lot of people can no longer keep their pets due to the housing crisis and I thought I could give a needed pup a new home. But I never expected to be had!
Could it be that I'm over reacting?

I have had terrible luck on craigs list tring to get another yorkie oe chihuahua. Those fols seem to be slices short of the wonder loaf. I gave up 8 months ago.

[DvlshAngel985]

I guess it's just what I needed to hear. I think I will give up and just save up my pennies to have enough to buy a pup from a reputable breeder or to have one from a rescue (either way they're pretty pricey). The last thing I want to do is support a back yard breeder or a breeder with no consideration for the lifes they're briging into the world.

[lucyaboo]

I found Pebbles on Craigslist back in July 08 - her person posted exact facts, that she was a yorkie mix & what the real re-homing fee was. It was a smooth transition. I first contacted the person on Sunday night, got pictures emailed, saw her in person on Monday night & she was home with me on Tuesday night.

I'm sure there are bad ads, but I was very happy finding Peb's there. Good luck!

[Jacklynn]

Anytime I have ever emailed about a yorkie rescue on there and asked about the rehoming fee, I've gotten responses like...... oh well actually I'm selling him/her but I have to say it is a rehoming fee to list it, the rehoming fee is $1500..... haha WHAT?!

[AngelWorks]

There are actual good peeps trying to re-home their dogs on CL too.

I recently posted ads from my local list here and a member now has a new yorkie.

I think you have to go through the list and listen to your guts.

Same when looking for a breeder, you have to sort through the less reputable ones.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Jacklynn

Anytime I have ever emailed about a yorkie rescue on there and asked about the rehoming fee, I've gotten responses like...... oh well actually I'm selling him/her but I have to say it is a rehoming fee to list it, the rehoming fee is $1500..... haha WHAT?!

Originally Posted by AngelWorks

There are actual good peeps trying to re-home their dogs on CL too.

I recently posted ads from my local list here and a member now has a new yorkie.

I think you have to go through the list and listen to your guts.

Same when looking for a breeder, you have to sort through the less reputable ones.

Very good point. It is almost like looking for a reputable breeder. Unfortunately for me, my experiences are more like Jacklynn's. They start with a re-homing fee that's really low, and as the conversation goes on, the price suddenly changes. It's frustrating!!! At those prices I might as well take my time, research the breeder, and get a puppy from a really young age. Or go with a rescue group.
I think I'm gonna call it quits on the search for a little while. Can't let my obsession with gettin a yorkie affect my grades!

[ButterflyYorkie]

Originally Posted by Jacklynn

Anytime I have ever emailed about a yorkie rescue on there and asked about the rehoming fee, I've gotten responses like...... oh well actually I'm selling him/her but I have to say it is a rehoming fee to list it, the rehoming fee is $1500..... haha WHAT?!

We just discovered craigslist a short while back, had no clue what it was. We are working with a rescue.
We have
sworn off craigslist in the "animal dept" for life now!We had no clue how the people in the animal sections on there really were.
The person you are speaking of above is most likely a CROOK or breeder using the place to sell puppies....sad!!! Re-homing for 1500? Yeahhh right!
You should "flag" them and let others on there know there is something to look out for!

[MissTinkerbelle]

I got Buddy on CL.
It was fate. I was up super late on a week night and saw the ad go up.
She got over 50 responses in like 5 hours. It was nuts. Buddy was free. She was very frank saying he needed all his shots and a check up. She could'nt care for him so he was sitting in a crate for over a year. So she gave him for free because she wanted the money to go towards his vet visit and shots.

So yes, there are some good people on CL, but you have to go with your heart and gut.

I went with mine, and good thing I did, because now I have Buddy!

[yoyo27]

There are so many crooks out there now days and they are using every scam to make $'s. Its hard for my little brain to think of all those things. Why don't they use their heads to do some good instead of bad. Its almost hard to use the net when you don't know weather to even believe the pictures they are using is what you would be getting. And not they feel they have to scam with the price and get around rules. Amazing what this place has become. I do know that CL has one family that was getting rid of there dog because her hubby was going overseas and she was working more hours and didn't want the dog to be home by herself. So they were getting rid of her due to hours they would be able to spend with the dog. It was sad it wasn't like they didn't want the dog but didn't have the time for one. I'm not sure if that dog is still on there or what. But she was still a young dog. But I feel you have to do your research no matter what its for these days. Alot of good salespeople out there to make $'s. Be very careful.

[sandyapk]

I suggest that you occasionally google Los Angeles Animal Control. That will take you to the website for the pound. You can search on line for dogs. I see yorkies all the time. If you have a shelter near you I suggest visiting and getting to know the office staff. They can help you rescue a dog.

[MissTinkerbelle]

Originally Posted by sandyapk

I suggest that you occasionally google Los Angeles Animal Control. That will take you to the website for the pound. You can search on line for dogs. I see yorkies all the time. If you have a shelter near you I suggest visiting and getting to know the office staff. They can help you rescue a dog.

The animal shelter is at the end of my street. Buddy and I walk there all the time. So do you mean that since I live in RI, they can help me get a dog in LA?

[DvlshAngel985]

I think she meant it for me, since I live in LA

[ladyjane]

I was about to give up on CL until I finally ran into an owner who really did want her pup placed well. Whenever I saw an ad I would write and ask if they had considered rescue especially the free ones that were not spayed or neutered. I would warn them of where they quite possibly could end up such as byb or mills. My goal was not to necessarily get the pup into rescue, but to make people aware of the nuts out there so their pups did not end up in a bad place. Normally I was met with hostility about rescue and never knew if they were byb or if they just had perhaps had a bad experience with rescue. Anyway..........this one gal was thrilled and wanted to know all I could share with her to find her pup a good home. She got one great response to her ad that did sound good, and actually called to ask us to do the reference checks and the pup ended up in a wonderful home!
So....I guess what I am saying is that it really is like looking for a needle in a haystack but there are good people on that list. You have to remember that you are going to the list and if you are a good person, chances are many of those people are. Just be ready to wade through the muck. It is a shame that so many wackos are out there, but they, are so all we can do is protect ourselves...and yes, if you see a bad ad, flag it.