06/07/2026
This message will probably not reach the intended audience but it's worth a try. And maybe through public education (via social media) some of this information will spread and enlighten people about why backyard breeding needs to stop and why "free" pets are not all they seem to be...
This weekend we tried to help 3 pups being given away for free. We reached out to both owners and offered to intake the pups and spay mom so that she - and the family - would not find themselves in the same predicament months down the road. We explained vetting that the pups would receive as soon as they came into care - wellness checks, vaccines, deworming, parasite prevention, microchip. The owner thought that was great and said help with spay would be welcome...and then ignored us and continued to give them away. Why? Your guess is as good as ours.
Please listen to us when we say that giving a dog away for "free" is never a good idea. It is risky for the pups but also for the adopter:
For an adopter, a free dog often comes with hidden financial costs. While the initial price tag is zero, puppies can quickly become expensive one you factor in a vet check up, vaccines, parasite treatment & prevention and microchipping.
Advertising a pet as "free to a good home" is also risky for the pup because it bypasses standard shelter or rescue screening processes and can attract dangerous individuals such as abusers, dog fighters, flippers and breeders/puppy mill operators.
There is also concern that most (not all) people tend to value things less when they do not pay for them. Free dogs are frequently abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or neglected when the owner realizes how much work they are.
We sincerely hope that the 3 beautiful puppies found loving homes this weekend and will go on to live long, healthy lives. Past experience tells us this is wishful thinking 😔
