Urge Craigslist to Ban 'Free to a Good Home' Ads in Wake of Hideous Torture, Killing of Animals

We all know Craigslist. It's a Web site for people to post local community classifieds and forums. It's a great place to find a job, an apartment, and sometimes even a girlfriend or boyfriend. Unfortunately, animals are being given away to anyone who wants them via "free to a good home" ads on Craigslist. PETA has written to Craigslist about the many animals who suffer neglect and abuse—and are sometimes even killed—as a result of these ads. In 2005, we requested that Craigslist implement a policy prohibiting "free to a good home" ads, and Craigslist posted a mild warning about giving away animals via its Web site. However, in light of recent cruelty cases involving extreme suffering of animals obtained through the Web site, PETA has renewed its reasonable request that Craigslist ban these ads once and for all.

On September 16, Austin Patterson of San Antonio, Texas, allegedly tortured and mutilated three gray tabby cats. According to news reports, the animals were found duct-taped to pieces of plywood with their bodies arranged in the shape of a triangle. A box of nails, a hammer, a pair of scissors, and knives were reportedly found next to the animals' mutilated bodies. If that weren't bad enough, reports indicate that one of the cats was disemboweled, that at least two of the cats had their throats slit, and that all three had fishing line tied around their necks. The cats, including this 3-year-old male named Taylor, were reportedly obtained via ads posted on Craigslist, which offered the animals "free to a good home."

Craigslist is in a position to help prevent the suffering of animals like Taylor. Please urge Craigslist to do the right thing and immediately implement a policy prohibiting "free to a good home" ads.