"Rescuer" told me to mind my own business...?

Question

A woman who claims to be a "rescuer" listed a litter of 5 kittens on Freecycle. A couple of days later, she reposted saying all the kittens found a home at the same place and happily they would be together. I emailed her and told her I didn't think it was a good idea to let these kittens all go together. Usually, someone who takes a whole litter has plans other than having them as pets. She got really hostile with me and told me she was following her calling to rescue animals and to mind my own business. This woman has litters of puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats she lists almost weekly on Freecycle and she lists them as free to a good home. I've contacted her several times about how dangerous this is. I think she's a Fruitloop and is placing alot of animals in danger. Should I just let it go now that she's been warned and has shown no intentions of stopping this? Is there anything that can be done with her?

Answer 1

Hoarders often start out as taking animals off the street and then it gets to be too much when you're having litters constantly.

I would report her to ANYONE that can get this problem fixed. Hoarding is illegal, and if she's having litters online every week, the SPCA will definately see it fit to either remove all of the animals or force her to spay/neuter them all and to order her not to take any more animals in.

To be a rescue you need certification from the state saying that you have and will continue to have the licenses to have that many animals on your property and that you are providing sufficient care and help for the animals.

I'm pretty sure if you're qualified as a rescue its ILLEGAL to give away animals in any way shape or form, so she's probably lumping on the crimes and fines.

Answer 2

maybe call animal control and report a possible hording?

Answer 3

You can probably report her to Freecycle and they could block her (maybe) but she'll just go somewhere else. You can contact her under the guise of adopting an animal and go see what conditions these animals live in. That may enable you to contact animal control.

You're right, anyone who would take an entire litter of kittens probably doesn't know what they are getting into and does not have the means (or intent) to care for them as pets. Best case scenario, in 8 months they will be cranking out litter after litter of sickly, inbred kittens. There are some people who think they are doing some great deed by being a "rescuer" and really they are just shuffling animals from one bad situation to the next, a lot of time these people are hoarders or are in over their heads.  

Answer 4

Oh nooo!!!  Yes if there is any way possible to save her emails and get in touch with animal control...  Oh man I shudder to think what could have happened to these babies..  No one adopts a whole litter..  I AM a rescuer, I am also affiliated w/ an organization, none of us would ever freecycle an animal let alone let it go for free thru any means...  They're never sent to homes w/ out shots and spay/neuter and worming...  Thanks for contacting this woman, I would keep at it.

Answer 5

Wow. What a horrible and difficult situation. Have you tried contacting your SPCA by phone? I would do that if you haven't already because they should be able to give some guidance. You could try talking with the sheriff.  

Answer 6

I agree with Bozema, however, you can contact the moderator of that freecycle group (I'm on freecycle too!) and let her know your concerns.  Just be nice and sincere about it. Usually, freecycle is for perfectly good stuff you are going to throw away and it ends up in the landfill, not live animals.  I was on one in Long Beach, CA that would not allow pet postings.  Although, I did give away about 60 baby walking stick bugs through them and I guess they didn't see it as a "pet".  I've given a kitten away on freecycle before and felt weird about it, but their cat recently passed away and she is a vet tech and they breed basset hounds.  Not that I agree with breeding, but I would expect a vet tech/breeder to know a little more than a backyard breeder who'se in it just for the money.  She was such a pretty little thing and I wish I could have kept her myself.  Cuddly and soft.  Don't you just LOVE kittens?

Answer 7

Why does she have so many listed. If she takes good care of them its ok but you can't know unless you go see. Take a friend and act like you are going to adopt. See for yourself but don't judge unless it's really bad. Some people take good basic care but don,t have lots of money. If the animals are clean and fed and have good shelter the better off than on the street. Maybe it was a small litter like 2 or 3 and some one feel in love with all of them.

Answer 8

Email her this video .....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyQWoVWPi...

*cries for the kittens*

*CRIES*

Answer 9

IDK if hoarder would be the proper term. I noticed the same people in my area always have free dogs to good homes, free cats, free whatever else they've got.

They claim to rescue as well. My theory is they allow the animals they "rescue" to breed and just have an endless supply of animals.

Just a theory though, I got the same attitude when I inquired. I doubt there's anything you can do. They're not doing anything illegal. I posted an ad on the site that the ones I mentioned were doing explaining the dangers of free pets but the site took it down. =/

Answer 10

I think you should share your concerns with your local animal control agency.  She sounds like one of those people that calls themselves a "rescuer" but is really a hoarder.  In these cases, you confronting her won't do any good - if she is truly a hoarder, they may need to investigate and bring in a mental health professional to assist.

EDIT -  I'd contact the sheriff then about possible animal neglect/hoarding situation.  Some hoarders will give animals away if you meet the "right" conditions - such as you take all 5 kittens in the litter.  Some even know they are in over their heads but don't know how to get out of it and tend to get defensive when people question their motives or the care they provide.

Answer 11

she doesnt sound like a "hoarder" considering she is giving these animals away. she probably has good intentions, because obviously she rescues these animals, but doesnt realize the type of people that she is just giving them away to. we have a shady "rescue" in one of the small towns close to where i live, and as good of intentions they may have, they are still shady and choose to place their animals with just whoever will take them. there isnt really much you can do, techincally she isnt doing anything wrong. i understand your concern for these animals, but it really is none of your business.  

Answer 12

I would contact the ASPCA or animal control.  She doesn't sound right to me either.  And you're right...it's never a good idea to give away kittens/puppies free in the paper like that.  They get used for bait, and let's not forget that they're still some primitive ppl out there who still eat them!  I wouldn't let it go.  She's gotta be reproducing those animals in order to have so many on a regular basis.  That in itself is wrong.  Good luck to you.  

If the Sherriff won't do anything for you, try talking to some of the other shelters and see what they say.  Maybe they can give you some local info.

Answer 13

If you are able to answer on the same page so it is shown to all perhaps you could c/p this there, if not maybe sending this to her will make her stop to think what could happen to these animals she is giving away "free to good home"  ;-(  It also may make her realize that she is NOT doing "rescue" but she IS placing these animals in great danger.

Sometimes people have good intentions but just don't know how cruel this world can really be.

A Death Sentence!



Unfortunately, "free" is too often seen as "worthless" in the eye of the beholder. If you have a Pet you need to get rid of please contact a Rescue to help you find a good home, there are a number of Rescues for all types of Pets listed on www.petfinder.com

This is how some people see your giveaway pet:

FREE bait to train fighting dogs and greyhounds

FREE snake food

FREE sacrifice for satanic rituals

FREE animal for malicious pranks

FREE to a good home to breed indiscriminately

FREE fish bait

FREE money from the research lab

FREE animal to set on fire

FREE animal to insert a firecracker into

PLEASE don't offer your companions FREE to a good home unless you just don't care what happens to them.



Volunteers who work endless hours to save pets from the horror of abuse and homelessness bring this message to you. Permission to reproduce this information and distribute is granted, encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Respectfully in Rescue,

            Terry                      

Click to Visit Majesty Rescue.com  

See our slideshows here http://tinyurl.com/5ooufg   & our videos here  http://tinyurl.com/6gjotu  



"Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight" ~ Albert Schweitzer

Answer 14

You could:

-pretend to be a adopter, and then get an address

-go to her house "looking" at the litters, but pay attention to the status of all of the litters

-call animal control with an address and number, and tell them what you discovered, along with what you think she is doing, and what the litters are like.

I don't suggest you let it go, because she doesn't sound like she's up to any good.

Answer 15

Could you try to get a representative from a real foster organization to talk to her?

Maybe they would know how to approach her and possibly even help her turn into a legitimate rescuer.  She probably means well and is just being overly defensive about it and highly uneducated.  If someone could approach her very carefully maybe they could help her work towards learning to rehome animals appropriately.  

good luck!  it sounds like a really tough issue

Answer 16

The ONLY THING you can do is take all them yourself.. then find them homes.

There are so many hoarders out there... and you have to walk on egg shells around them.

I don't know what area you live in but since you only have a sheriff you might talk to them.  (unfortunately some sheriff thinks that WE are kooks if we care for animals.)

The person who took them might just want barn cats...

You might have a freind call about them and see if she will give you the phone number of the person who took them.

We have a hoarder who takes all the litter (from kids sitting in front of a store) and puts them in cages.  So they never can get a REAL home...

GAWD... WHY IN THE WORLD ISN'T EVERYONE GETTING THIER CATS SPAYED/ NEUTERED  and be a responsible pet owner!

good luck on this one!>^..^<