If you’re looking to adopt a pet, Craigslist could be the way to go! This website can help you find a new member of your family while giving an animal a forever home. However, there are those who use this website to scam people, and usually you won’t know you’ve been taken until it’s too late. With that being said, don’t completely disregard Craigslist. These 10 tips will help you adopt a pet off Craigslist with little to no problems.
- Ask several questions.
Before making any long-term decision, you need to ask plenty of questions. Ask about the pet’s health record, where the pet was obtained, and anything else you can possibly think of. However, it’s important to remember that you should not accept the answers as fact. Some people may lie. One way to avoid being deceived is to ask the question a few times. Someone who is lying will reply with different answers. And always be sure to verify that they are the actual owner of the pet. - Meet at a neutral area.
You can never be too sure who you are talking to. Never go to someone’s house for a transaction. That can put you and the seller in an awkward situation. To avoid this situation, agree to meet in a neutral place. This is for your safety, plus someone who is trying to scam you will be less likely to make the transaction in public. - Ask about adoption fees.
Many organizations will have adoption fees. These can be anywhere from $150 to $500. This fee covers the cost of the pet while they were in the organization’s care. If a fee is much higher than this, you might be looking at a scammer. Those who don’t work for an organization may not require any re-homing fees. Don’t assume there is no re-homing or adoption fee if there isn’t one listed on the advertisement. - Read the advertisement and correspondence carefully.
Careful reading is a good way to find the right pet for you. Reading advertisements and correspondences carefully may reveal warning signs. While scammers generally exist for high dollar breeds, others may disguise behavioral problems with flowery language. If a dog has “a lot of energy,” the dog may be extremely disobedient on a leash. Another thing you should do is read the emails you receive from the owner/seller. If they appear to have broken English, be wary. Scammers around the world use Craigslist to find unassuming victims. - See the pet in person.
Never purchase a pet without interacting with it in person. You should make sure your personalities work well together. A pet may not have the right personality for you. A dog or cat may be too active or not like you at all for various reasons. You don’t want to be stuck with an animal with this issue. - Check several sections.
While the pet section is generally where people place their ads, they may also place them in “community” or “freebies.” Both of these sections are populated with animals. You can potentially miss out on the perfect pet by never glancing at these subforums. - Request vet information.
In order to check up on someone’s answers to your questions, request the number for their vet. Making this request is a way to be safe. Speaking to the vet will reveal any medical or behavioral issues the pet may have. If the animal hasn’t been to the vet recently, ask if you can take them to a vet before adopting. - Prepare your home.
Before you adopt a pet, you need to have your home ready. If you need to gate off areas, do it before bringing the pet home. It will be harder to train a dog to avoid an area if they were previously allowed to go there. Preparing your home will allow your pet to become accustomed to the home with minimal adjustment. - If you have other pets, schedule a meet-up.
Getting another animal can be risky if you already have other pets. Cats may not like each other or not like dogs, and dogs may not like each other. Just like people, personalities with animals can clash. To avoid this, consider a “play-date” for your pets and the one you’re considering adopting. - Never transfer money.
The biggest way scammers get people is by having them transfer money through a company like Western Union. The best way to avoid being scammed is to meet in a public place and pay cash. If someone tries to get you to agree to a money transfer, simply stop corresponding with them.
