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When the Hawaiian Humane Society posted a photo of Sally Mae, a 10-year old Jack Russell Terrier that had just been adopted, friends and dog lovers rejoiced in the deserving dog finding a loving forever home.
But, just one hour after she was adopted, Sally Mae’s new family put an ad on Craigslist, asking a $200 re-homing fee – more than double what they’d just paid in adoption fees from the Humane Society.
In the Craigslist ad, Sally Mae’s brand new family claimed they were struggling to care for the dog since they were busy working two jobs.
Now, the Hawaiian Humane Society is trying to contact Sally Mae’s adopters to find out if they simply adopted her for a profit or if they’re really struggling to care for her. Although, by law, there is nothing they can do about it, the Humane Society just wants Sally Mae returned to them.
“We’re just really imploring her to come and return Sally to us so we can just get her to a new home. She does have a medical condition,” Christina Kam, Hawaiian Humane Society’s communications and event coordinator told KHON2.
‘Dog Flipping,’ as it is becoming known, is a growing problem among shelters and rescues. While not illegal, it is unethical and just plain wrong.
wes
Jun 28, 2014 at 2:40 pm
The Hawaiian Humane Society does have a no questions asked return policy. The dog was returned after all the negative publicity and has found a forever home
Yvonne Bringuel
Jun 28, 2014 at 2:34 pm
update. I live on Maui and am keeping up with this particular story.
facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=705659229471224&set=a.114088478628305.7221.109298662440620&type=1&theater
Janie Marshall
Jun 25, 2014 at 8:14 pm
All animal sales should be banned on Craig’s List. There are just too many greedy people out there who are happy to benefit financially with no regard for the well being of the animals. Shame on Craig’s List for advertising any dog or cat sale. They are very knowledgeable as to what is likely to occur with such business dealings. Time they smartened up and listened to public opinion. They’ll get no business from me ever!
William Whitler
Jun 25, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Cant care for her my ass, they had that poor dog for 1Hr. I cant stand those people, would love hour with them myself, unbelievable!
Teresa
Jun 25, 2014 at 12:07 pm
I recently adopted a new baby from the Central Oklahoma Humane Society. They also have a clause that the animal is to be returned to them if the adopter doesn’t/can’t keep the animal.
Heidi
Jun 25, 2014 at 1:07 pm
Most pet adoption organizations have that. I find it hard to believe that a Humane society doesnt…and leads me to question the validity of this story.
Lee
Jun 25, 2014 at 9:47 pm
Both pets that I have that came from rescues required that I sign a statement saying that I would turn the animal back into them in the event we could no longer keep. One rescue even gave us a “return” period where we could get our money back if the animal wasn’t a good fit.
rudysmom
Jun 25, 2014 at 12:00 pm
There needs to be a clause in the contact that states if they are unable to care for the animal adopted it needs to be returned to the Shelter, no questions asked. I adopted from a Rescue and that’s how my contact is worded.
dutchessnkiki
Jun 26, 2014 at 9:55 am
Yes there does need to be a clause!!! I have adopted 3 times from rescues and they ALL have in the contract that you will return the dog to them should you not want it or be able to care for it any longer. People just make me sick how the treat animals!
Diane
Jun 25, 2014 at 11:18 am
The shelter here in Iowa that I adopted my babies from DOES have a clause stating that if for any reason you do not want the pet or cannot care for it any longer you will return it to them. I don’t know how or if that is enforced, but it is part of the adoption agreement.
Rebecca
Jun 25, 2014 at 11:14 am
A lot of breed-specific rescues and breeders have it part of the contract to return your pet to them if you can’t care for them, so why don’t all shelters/rescues do that? They could even word is so that the adopter just has to call them first, then the rescue could reserve the right to take back the pet or give the owners the go ahead to find a new owner.
Dorre52
Jun 25, 2014 at 10:33 am
This is not right. I have adopted 2 rescues to give them a better home. They have been rejected, abandoned and abused by their previous owners. So why take the dog and dump them again. It is plain cruelty, greed and lack of compassion for the dog. This woman should not even have babies, she will give away or sell her children too. There has to be a stricter law when an adopter adopts an animal.
Leanne
Jun 25, 2014 at 10:11 am
I think they should ban ALL pet ads on Craigslist!
jeri
Jun 25, 2014 at 11:18 am
Yes, YES, YESSSSS!!!
Teresa
Jun 25, 2014 at 12:09 pm
I agree!
dutchessnkiki
Jun 26, 2014 at 9:58 am
Agree, agree & agree you look on Craiglist and so many adds have we are unable to care for the pet any longer and it’s a puppy!! Really??? So 1) you are totally ignorant if you don’t know the responsibility of a puppy and how much work they are. 2) just like with this poor baby you’re a flipper and want money and don’t give a crap about this animal. Makes me so mad and I am so tired of hearing/seeing animal abuse cases because of people like these people!
Janie Marshall
Jun 25, 2014 at 4:20 pm
This poor pet is just a pawn to these selfish people. Shame on Craig’s List for carrying the ad. They are just magnifying the problem.
Lee
Jun 25, 2014 at 9:49 pm
I don’t completely disagree, but there needs to be a reputable way to post animals if CraigsList is no longer available. People can still advertise in the classifieds as well, so banning CraigsList won’t solve the problem.
Mike
Jun 25, 2014 at 10:11 am
In Real Estate we have occasionally have addendums to purchase contracts that cover a seller’s (usually the bank’s) anti-flipping policy.
The buyer has to agree, in advance in writing, that they can’t sell the home within so many days, and can’t sell it for more than a certain amount above the sale price for an even longer number of days. The same should be done with animals at kennels and humane societies like this. The penalty could be the loss of the animal and/or a fine.
For example, Bob adopts Fluffy and pays $100 in processing fees. Bob agrees not to sell the dog for 90 days and cannot sell the dog for more than $125 for at least 180 days. Then problems like this would vanish.
Hils
Jun 25, 2014 at 10:11 am
The charities need to make it part of the contract that adopters sign to state if they are unable to keep the dog for any reason it will be returned to the charity. I have such an agreement with the breeder of my pedigree dog which is a reassurance to me as he would be cared for properly if anything happened to me or even if I died. Genuine adopters I am sure would welcome going back to the charity if there were problems.