Online classifieds, OLX, has joined Ban Animal Trading (BAT) and Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC), together with other major online classified platforms, to launch operation Bite Back.
The operation is aimed at helping stamp out puppy mills and the indiscriminate sale of dogs being sold online for illegal dog fighting.
“This is a first for the online industry in that competitive companies have come together in a collaborative effort, prepared to fight for what is right,” said Ms Sharon Knowles, the head of operations at OLX.
“The dog fighting syndicates are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to source animals. To help stop them, OLX is taking the lead by banning certain types of ads and will no longer accept ads for pit bulls, staffies and other breeds that dog fighters target. OLX will also no longer allow ‘free to good home’ ads, the sale of puppies younger than eight weeks and the sale of pets by pet stores,” said Ms Knowles.
Syndicates use online classified platforms to find dogs for fighting and to sell fighting dogs, that are no longer of any use to them.
Ms Knowles added that dog fighting, an illegal blood sport, willingly places animals in harm’s way for sport.
“It is a practice that has grown into a multi-million Rand, organised crime network in South Africa, involving the wounding and killing of dogs,” she said.
