Boy, if I already couldn't sleep last night, this certainly didn't help. I tossed and turned thinking about it (and have a monster sized migraine to show for it this morning)
Anyhow, I felt I had to do somethign about this, so I emailed the freecycle head honchos for my area. this is what I sent (too late to tell me I shold have said something better)
I am a member of the Wxyz Freecycle group and often participate. Freecycling is a great thing!
However, I am really upset by the post of someone who is giving away his cats because he got a new dog and his kids voted to get rid of the cats. To me, its not the spirit of freecycling -- its extortion where he's threatening to kill the cats by sending them to the Humane Society unless someone else comes to claim them. Its also teaching his kids that pets are expendable and there's no responsibility involved. Will he be posting this dog in 6 months after the newness wears off and the kids realize there's work involved with their new playmate?
I am not thrilled with the whole concept of allowing pets to be given away anyhow. I am very involved in cat rescue and am a dog trainer. Did you know there is a guy who actually haunts freecycle, craigslist, and newspapers for "free to a good home" ads so that he can feed the free kittens to his pet snake? I almost cringe when I see "free kitten" ads because I know he or his family will get at least one of them (being in the cat rescue, I know this guy and know how good he is at putting on a show making everyone believe he'll be the cat dad of the year while he runs home to feed the kitten to his snake!) I know my little story won't change your policy.... just add me to your list of people who've emailed you in protest of the policy.
Being in charge of a large membership like this must be a thankless and hard job - sorry to send you a complaint!
I am still fired up about this guy!
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