Moderator Manual:Files pets

Offer posts for pets

Hello Freecycle(R) member, This letter is to aide you in finding the best new home for your pet.

Finding a home is not as simple as the first person who responds to your notification. Unfortunately, that home may not be suitable and only you will know this. First a warning - If you receive any negative emails, due to your posting, from any member of your Freecycle Group, please forward the entire e-mail to your Moderator. We need to be aware of any transgression of the etiquette rules.

DO NOT respond to any emails, other than Offers of New Homes. Here at Freecycle, we understand that you have a large network of people from which to see if you can find a home - within that we ask that you be 100% responsible in placing your cherished pet with a new owner. Here is the criteria we strongly recommend you follow:

1. Wait at least 48 hours to see all responses to your posting
   
2. Then email back each responder and ask them a few questions about their family situation and household situation (such as: How many members are in your family? Have you had pets before? Are you sure there are no allergies to pets?)
   
3. Then choose which family you will "interview" first.
   
4. Notify that family and choose a meeting time when all members of the family will be present - take the pet with you - on a leash.
   
5. Go to the house and make sure you look around carefully. (Is there a yard? Is there a fence? Are there other animals - how do they interact? Are there young children - how do they interact? Is this house suitable? Is this family suitable? Also, you need to look around and make a bit of a judgment call on whether or not this person can afford this pet... not everyone should own a pet when there are vet bills involved, especially dogs!)
   
6. Choose if this is the family for this pet and if not, be gracious in saying, I am sorry I do not think "Buster" would be suited to your family.
   
7. Try again.
   
8. Once you find the family, let them know that you will be popping by some time in the next 2 weeks to see how Buster is doing. If he is well adjusting then you know your job is done and if not, then you reserve the right to pull the pet back out and try again.
   
9. Leave the family your contact information so if they need to have you pull Buster out, then they can reach you. Also leave them the information on the pet's vet of the past and a medical history.
   

 Now, I know this looks like a lot, but it is for the protection of you, your pet and the new family. All we ask is that you be 100% responsible for the placement of your pet. If you can not take it on this way, then we ask that you contact your local shelter and allow them to complete the task for you.

Most rescues screen homes prior to placement, so they are a viable option. If your pet is a challenging pet for any reason, please utilize the option of a Rescue group or Shelter right away.

DO NOT attempt to find a new home for a pet if it is known to nip, bite or attack in any way. Also this would apply if the animal was caught as a stray. Allow that animal to go to a shelter and be properly assessed and prepared for a new household.

At Freecycle, we recommend independent shelters and rescues before the local city pound or SPCA. Although both do a wonderful service, they may not be the healthiest places to leave your pet. Good luck in your search for a new home - we hope that it is a successful one.

Your XXX Freecycle Moderators

Placing Pets

Notice to members on Using Freecycle for Placing Pets

USING FREECYCLE(TM) FOR PLACING PETS

There are some special issues that surround animal-related WANTED and OFFERED posts about which you should be aware. When sending these posts, please keep the following in mind.

1. Wanted posts for animals are great IF they are limited to a specific animal (i.e.: WANTED: poodle or WANTED: KITTEN).

We do not need *any* posts seeking multiple animals or animals for breeding or resale due to the many abuses this may entail. Any pet listed as OFFERED or WANTED on this board has to be legal for anyone to own in the State of XXXXXX.

This means that no matter how much you want a pet Asian Tiger, you cannot post a WANTED for one on the board.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE PART OF A NONPROFIT ANIMAL RESCUE ORGANIZATION, PLEASE LET US KNOW OFF-LIST. IF YOURS IS A LEGITIMATE ORGANIZATION, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ADD YOUR GROUP TO OUR RESOURCES PAGES ON THE WEBSITE.

IF YOU WISH TO MAKE A POST ON BEHALF OF SUCH AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS FOR ITEMS WANTED PLEASE GIVE THE ADDRESS SO ITEMS MAY BE TAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATION.

2. OFFERED posts should be as specific as possible. Persons placing such posts need to realize that while this is a moderated list that we cannot screen potential quality adoptive homes. Unless you are fully comfortable that someone who responds will provide a proper and loving home for your animal, we urge you to explore other opportunities to re-home those animals such as your local Humane Society or breed rescues.

They accept pets at no charge to you and find them a good home. Follow local laws concerning offering baby kittens or puppies 8 weeks old or younger. Any pet listed as Offered on this board has to be legal for anyone to own in the State of XXX. This means that your pet Asian Tiger cannot be offered on the board, no matter how "nice" he is.

3. Freecycle claims no responsibility for animals placed or solicited through the activities of the list, its participants, or bystanders. We strongly discourage exchanges of any animal if there is any indication that a potential pet owner is not a loving and responsible individual.

If you seek a home for any animal, and if you are not prepared to spend adequate time to assure your pet a loving and adequate home, then we urge you to call on one of your local nonprofit shelters or rescue organizations. Unfortunately, these issues are serious enough that abusing the animal policy may get you moderated so that all posts must be approved by a moderator or, should an extreme case arise, you may be "banned" and thus have to leave our otherwise happy group!

Any Pet posting that violates these guidelines will be immediately deleted. Some questions to ask the potential new pet owner:

1. Do you work? Does your spouse work? How much time per day will you have to play with, feed, care for your pet? Will the pet be home all day alone or do you have a pet sitter or pet day care??
   
2. How many persons are in the home (adults and children; ages of children)?
   
3. What kind of housing do you have? Apartment? House?
   
4. If you lease or rent your home, do you have permission from your landlord to have a pet? Will you be willing to provide the name and telephone # of your landlord?
   
5. Do you have a fenced in yard? What height and type of fence?
   
6. What pets do you currently have? Type (cat, dog, snake??), ages and sex.
   
7. What pets have you had in the past 5 years? Please list them and explain what happened to them? (living, dead, ran away???)
   
8. Do you have a veterinarian? If so, what's the Vet's name and telephone number? Have you used this vet in the past?
   
9. What is your full name, address/e-mail address and/or telephone number so I can check on the pet from time to time?
   
10. Why are you interested in this pet? What type of pet would best fit into your lifestyle?
    
11. Is anyone at home with pet allergies?
    
12. Who will be responsible for the care of the pet?
    
13. Where will the pet be kept during the day? Night?
    
14. If a dog, will the pet be tied outside or live outside?
    
15. What will you do with your pet if you're gone on vacation, etc.?
    
16. What sorts of activities would you do with your pet?
    
17. Are you knowledgeable on how to care for this pet? Do you understand that there is time involved in training up a pet, care (medication, grooming, etc.)?
    
18. If you are unable to care for this pet in the future, who would care for him/her?
    
19. Please provide at least 2 references (family, friend, etc.); name and telephone Number.
    
20. Would you be willing to let me bring the pet to your home to satisfy me that your home is ready and acceptable a home for the pet?
    

 PLEASE be sure that you get/give all the pet's veterinary and medical records INCLUDING their shot records. This is important when YOU bring the pet to the vet to have a health check up! We want to be sure you had something to go by when finding a home for your pet. And for those who want a pet, you have some food for thought. Thanks for loving your pets and keep on recycling!