Sometimes, people list pets they want to rehome with a cost involved. This is to deter people looking for free bait animals. Apparently, there are people who train dogs for fighting and look for free animals. Not sure how true this is but listing with a price is supposed to be a deterent.

Dees, that's true. People seldom post pets for free anymore and are encouraged to ask even $20 etc. It deters dog fighters and pets being used in animal testing labs. But these prices are just greed. They're not the only 2, just 2 that I picked. I know that most people won't pay the prices, but to think that they'd actually ask those prices is laughable.

Re: dog fighters. They will hire a female with a couple of kids to go act as a loving family for the pet being offered.

Maybe, but I think that's something entirely different.

Hucksters, cons, and those looking to take advantage of others have been around since forever. We all live among many fools and suckers who can be easily taken advantage of. Those who try to pull stunts like this have put the bait on their hooks in the hopes of catching one.

you ain't seen nothing yet ...

When I see dogs, cats, puppies or kittens ”FREE” ON CL, I and others flag them. The ad belongs in the Pets folder and there should always be a fee (to prevent what Dees_1 discussed.

Our vet rolls her eyes when they hear some of the stories about people looking on CL for a pet dog or cat. Apparently, there’s been some unfoetunate stories — I think mostly about people buying a pet with undisclosed issues, or being scammed.

Howecer, I believe there are still good pets from good, decent people to be found on various venues.

A friend in the Bay Area is looking for a stable home for a very small dog that has been twice abandoned and traumatized. She is open about his age and medical isues (she saved him after someone died unexpectedly and doesnt want the dog to go to a shelter. She’s paying out her own pocket for the little dog to have grooming and vet care.

If youre looking for a responsible pet owner, caertaker or breeder, try inquiring at you vet’s office. Persist. All of my pets were from shelters (there is a fee — understandable), or from pets that people have abandoned in areas where we’ve lived. No papers, no history, no resume’. All of our furbabies were great, loving, needful, sweet, comical, ”articulate” and absolutely wonderful additions to our household. We miss them so very much.

I dream of them. I swear I sometimes feel them pressing againt me in bed.

Well all that matters is what are people paying for these used animals. My guess is no where near the asking price.

It's all about supply and demand.

"Well all that matters is what are people paying for these used animals"

I never heard of a "used animal". What does that mean?

What cracks me up is the $$$ people pay for "designer dog" that are just mutts. Let's make up a name like cockapoo , labradoodle, etc and charge $$$ for it. People will fall for it.

I agree that a animal should never be advertised as free. I know animal shelters have "do not sell to " lists that they share with other shelters. There should be something like that for the public and home breaders.

Is a "used animal" like a used towel or something....?

Or is it a living, breathing, feeling creature deserving of a good home?

Inquiring minds want to know....

"What cracks me up is the $$$ people pay for "designer dog" that are just mutts. Let's make up a name like cockapoo , labradoodle, etc and charge $$$ for it. People will fall for it."

They are not "mutts" at all!! Mutts are mixed breed dogs of unknown parentage. 'Designer' or crossbreed dogs are the offspring of two purebred dogs of different breeds and are intended to optimize the best attributes of both parents. For example, Goldendoodles have the outgoing, people-oriented personality of their golden retriever parent combined with the acute intelligence of the poodle parent. And an allergy friendly coat!

Since the purebred parents are typically expensive dogs to breed and purchase, their offspring are also. They also tend to have smaller litters so availability is sometimes limited.

"What cracks me up is the $$$ people pay for "designer dog" that are just mutts. Let's make up a name like cockapoo , labradoodle, etc and charge $$$ for it."

That doesn't bother or amuse me at all......I don't care what people use their disposable income on (as long as it's legal). I don't understand why people pay $$$ to go golfing or skiing, but, whatever. Frankly, I wish more people would buy mixed breed labradoodles and maltipoos than spend their money buying purebred French bulldogs or pugs.

Mixed breed or a designer dog is a different name for what is essentially a mutt. While the word mutt can have a negative connotation, it simply means that the dog's parents were not registered and both parents are not of the same breed. These types of dogs come in a variety of coat types and colors, shapes, and sizes that rival any purebred dog.

I was looking at nearby Humane society pages and they were wanting over $300 to adopt a dog. Our's charges around $90. Facebook pages asking over $1000 for a mutt that might have a Great Pyrenees parent.

I would like a Goldendoodle but I don't want to pay that much for a dog and I don't want to contribute to something I don't believe in. I think there are too many unwanted animals as it it. I don't understand breeding more. Even pure bred dogs end up in shelters and being euthanized.

I've always lived in areas where people dump animals. One came from a rescue, one was dumped and I suspect the third one ran away from his original home because he was not neutered. We pay food and vet bills. I did pay for the rehoming fee from the rescue, but mainly the animals find us.

"What cracks me up is the $$$ people pay for "designer dog" that are just mutts."

You might feel differently if you had more understanding of the objectives behind common and specific types of crossbreeding.

I'll give you an example - the Guide Dog organization in my area deliberately crossbreeds Labrador retrievers and Golden retrievers. Breeding animals are selected by teams that involve dog breeding experts and vets. They do so expressly for the characteristics of the working dogs that result. Dogs are bred, fully trained, and given at no charge to disabled people who need their services. And who are also trained for no charge for several weeks with the dog on how to use their services.

Does that crack you up?

There are reputable, ethical, intelligent and responsible people who act as X. There are also moneygrubbers who act irresponsibly, unethically and dishonestly, who care only about themselves and don't know or care about the harm they cause. Who are also active doing X and give the good ones a bad reputation.

For X, you can fill in just about any kind of business or activity you know. Breeders, contractors, realtors, lawyers, dentists, plumbers, financial advisers, auto shops and mechanics, restaurant owners, roofers and on and on. With any word in place of X, most people would agree and would have heard of bad incidents involving same.

There are reputable and responsible breeders around. There are far too many ignorant scoundrels and probably more scoundrels than good ones. Don't let the bad ones give good ones a bad name.

A basic tabby cat for $2500?? Yikes. We have not seen that around here, but I wish people would pay a reasonable amount. People won't pay more than $25-$50 to adopt a cat where I am. I took in a stray recently that has had two vet visits and desperately needs a dental, which is scheduled in about a month. By the time I'm done, I will have paid approximately $1K for all of his vet work - and that's only if he doesn't need any extractions at the upcoming dental. (BTW, that $1K doesn't cover his initial vetting including neuter, combo testing and vaccines that was all done through a grant at our local humane society.) We cannot keep this cat, and I will probably rehome him for $50. We are not bajillionaires, but I can't leave this sweet, precious cat in pain and trust that someone else will take care of everything that needs to be done. Besides, most people don't want to adopt a cat that needs expensive dental work right out of the gate.