Recycling animals!!

I am not sure if you are aware of this or not, but Freecycle.org, a group that boasts that they "keep items out of landfills" also allows members to post animals which they wish to give away. Many members have complained about this practice, but it continues. Now the organization is going to receive sponsorship by the Waste Management/Recycle America Alliance and I believe this will only make this matter worse by reaching further into the public and send the message that animals can be classified as "recyclable items" and I believe this will endanger them.

The sponsorship with Waste Management has gone through, perhaps it can be revoked if we protest. I am not sure that they are aware of this practice. Freecycle will not change its policy on allowing animals to be treated as used merchandise. I hope that we can somehow stop this.

[Simon]

Ok, so if people can't buy animals, what would you rather happen to them?

[petertdavis]

I don't really see how this would worsen the situation?

[Thais]

Hmm....I've had a look at this site, but unless I actually join I can't see anything about this. And as I'm not in the US, I'm not about to join.

However, it does seem a bit similar to LETS to me, only with physical goods instead of services. I can't actually see how offering a pet or animal up for a new home when it's needed, is bad. Surely better than abandoning it by the road??

[Andrea]

This post isn't a major problem I don't think. It raised a thought with me though that labs obtain animals through "to a good home" ads and such. There are times when some owners have no choice but to find a home for their companions but how can they know what type of a home they are going to this way?

[reality]

Originally Posted by Andrea

This post isn't a major problem I don't think. It raised a thought with me though that labs obtain animals through "to a good home" ads and such. There are times when some owners have no choice but to find a home for their companions but how can they know what type of a home they are going to this way?

Labs do no such thing. Unless perhaps you are speaking of "meth labs" or some such.

[Andrew]

Recycling animals is kind of strange on an organized level.

Burying fi-fi in the backyard seems like not too strange thing to do, which will in essence recycle the material in the body.

In the city, they seem to prefer to cremate them.

[emma_pen]

Originally Posted by reality

Labs do no such thing. Unless perhaps you are speaking of "meth labs" or some such.

Hmmm...yes, they do, in the US...which is why people are encouraged not to advertise animals as 'FREE to good home'.

I don't approve of the practice, unless there is some organisation homechecking potential owners and making sure they are neutered, etc. It just seems a bit irresponsible, but I guess no more than any other classified advert section...

Ems