‘Free to good homes’ adverts on social media a big concern for non-profitable organisations, animal shelters

HIGHVELD – “Free to good home” adverts on social media are a huge concern for non-profitable organisations and animal shelters.

The people who post these adverts on social media may have good intentions of finding a good and loving home for their pets, but there are many reasons why one should neither give away animals for free nor support those who do.

No animal is really for free. What animal welfare consider as responsible owners are those who spay or neuter their animals, inoculate them on time and also because of so many animals getting lost, to microchip them. They have to be de-wormed every three months; they need the right food, shelter, bedding, toys etc. These costs add up to a lot of money.

Animals that have been given away for free are often abandoned and become street roamers, neglected or abused.

In most cases they are not sterilised and left to breed more unwanted pets that will then end up back on social media or at local shelters, and sadly also put to sleep due to just not enough homes for all the animals.

“The main concern is that these animals end up in the wrong hands. There are bad people trolling the internet for these “free to good home” adverts. Adoptions through a responsible registered organisation will at least guarantee your pet’s sterilisation, first vaccination and in some cases microchipping, plus it saves costs, as well as giving an animal a second chance in life,” said Ms Chantal Vorster from Because Dogs & Co.

“A pit bull terrier that is given away, might be used in dog fighting. We are also facing a huge problem where we have a high demand of re-homing pets. This could be due to a person moving or immigrating and being unable to accommodate their pets. In some cases they just leave their pets behind (abandonment), which is also a crime, in South Africa” said Ms Vorster.

According to some studies, 40 percent of “free to good home” animals are eventually surrendered to shelters.

Worst case, they end up as bait in dog fighting, used as live food or bait for exotic reptiles such as snakes, neglected, traumatised and abused, used for breeding in puppy mills, sold to laboratories for testing and in some cases sacrificed in cult rituals.

Dr Corné Viljoen and Dr Louis Bosch of the Secunda Animal Hospital, said it is not only important to spay your pet in order to prevent unwanted offspring, but it also important to avoid medical risks that your pet is naturally more subjected to when they have not been sterilised.

These include Oestrus, mammary cancer, tumours of the reproductive tract and uterine infections.

“We strongly believe animals should be spayed and neutered early and receive vaccinations at the appropriate time.

“Parvovirus, commonly known as cat flu, is a sad and unnecessary sight to see in dogs. The common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, lack of appetite and lethargy. It is extremely contagious. Most of the cases we see are puppies that have not been vaccinated.”

“An amateur breeder will be keen to sell an animal while simultaneously withholding information regarding its vaccine history. It is impossible for the pet to have all their vaccinations if it leaves the litter at six weeks.

“A responsible breeder will vaccinate and de-worm the puppies at six weeks and will keep them for another two weeks for the mother to discipline them within the litter. This ensures that you end up with a well-adjusted puppy. Once they go to the new owner, the breeder will present them with a card showing when the next vaccination is due. At 10 weeks the new owner will bring the puppy for the second vaccination,” said Dr Bosch.

Mr Louis Kempen, of Little Paws Big Hearts, said their non-profitable organisation constantly have to fight the scourge of sick unvaccinated and unsterilised animals.

“Not vaccinating your animal puts not only your animal at risk, but other animals as well. It is selfish of any owner to refrain from giving their animal the health protection it needs,” said Mr Kempen.

Rather support the organisations in our area by getting involved through adoptions, fostering, volunteering, donating or education.

Saving one animal at a time won’t change the world, but it will change the world for that one animal.