Pet turning is an absolutely incredible crime and it could be reduced if more people avoided buying from dubious sources. Craigslist is great for exotics, IMO, but not at all good for dogs and cats unless they`re lined and the seller has proof of ownership. Obviously, it is illegal to steal someone else`s property, and a pet is recognized as property. However, not all upside-down animals are stolen from their yard. In many cases, pet sacrifices were lost, and while their owners searched far for them, they were picked up by a fin and “twisted” for quick money, often on a site like Craigslist. Pet flipping is kind of an uncertain world when it comes to whether it`s legal or not. Although returning pets is (obviously) theft, you will have a hard time getting the attention of the police when it happens to you. Stephanie Harrison adopted her dog Lola through the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center. The adoption was scrutinized because Lola was a rescued puppy mill.
Harrison told ABC Action News that she has nothing against the extra screening process when it comes to protecting these dogs. Pet flipping is the practice of stealing a pet (usually a cat or dog) from its owner and then selling it through a service like Craigslist. Pinball machines make a profit by taking something they received for free – through theft – and selling it. The “adoption fee” for upside-down animals is usually very reasonable and leads the buyer to believe that he or she is getting a “good deal” for a purebred animal. Often, the dogs most likely to return pets are valuable and are used for breeding. As the animal rescue industry continues to grow, pets and their owners may continue to fall victim to thieves who want to make money by returning pets. Concerns about pet turning over prompted the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center to strengthen screening guidelines for potential pet adopters after rescuing hundreds of neglected purebred puppies last fall. Florida has been among the top five states for this problem every year since 2015, with nearly 200 puppy thefts reported during that time. The group says the number is likely much higher because some owners may not realize their dog has been stolen. Do you think returning pets could never happen to you? Maybe you`re careful about how often you leave your pet outside and you`re sure that the ten minutes you let your dog out without your attention are too little time for him to get out of the yard or robbed.
If that`s your mindset, you`re wrong. Note that if a purebred pet is sold, the original owner should have some sort of proof of ownership, including the pet`s documents. This isn`t always the case, as documents are sometimes misplaced or never sent to the new owner when buying a puppy or kitten, but it`s a useful tool for determining whether or not you`re buying a pet from its original owner or a third party (such as a pet fin). All pet parents should be aware of the horrible practice of pet flipping (also commonly known as dog flipping). What is Pet Flipping? According to Animal Law Update, it is defined as the criminal act of stealing a pet and then selling it as a pet that needs a home to ignorant buyers, often through sites like Craigslist. Another version of pet flipping is when a lost pet is claimed by someone claiming to be the owner, who then turns around and sells it. Another variant of pet flipping occurs when a pet is stolen and thieves extort ransom from owners to get it back. Experts say that a great deterrent for dog rollover will charge you a fee. According to WTOC, “the American Kennel Club said resale, called pet flipping, has increased 800% since 2008,” and the AKC reported a 31% increase since 2012. Animal turning is not just for stolen dogs. There are a lot of people looking for places like Craigslist for free pets. They then send them back with a fee for “relocation”.
This is a quick way to make money easily and pets are the ones who usually lose. If you have a pet, please use it with a microchip.
