Friday, January 09, 2009
Facebook Group Successful in Lobbying Online Classifieds Company to halt sale of dogs
An online classified website has halted the sale of dogs on their entire website currently serving 7 major cities in Canada. Unlike Kijiji.ca, golistings.com remained open minded during the negotiations with the Facebook group. Owner / operator of golistings.com, Tom Piasecki said “I like the idea… it does seem logical, I too would not want to see animal cruelty” and also asked the group if they had “Any other thoughts or ideas for improvement.” Mr. Piasecki, who resides in Ontario, felt the group had a valid cause for concern, and removed the “Dogs For sale” category from the classified site immediately after negotiations ended.
Over the past year a lot of concerns have been raised over the Kijiji.ca website by Maritimers. First by an animal rescue coalition after Kijiji.ca started aiding people to buy and sell dogs / puppies. Kijiji which is owned by Ebay has failed to address anyone’s concerns regarding the sale of dogs in months. Ebay, the owner of Kijiji who operates online auctions does not allow the sale of any live animals and hasn’t for years – though on Kijiji they allow the sale of live animals of any species.
After the sale of very sick, dying puppies to many Maritime families last summer and fall, a Facebook group was created by Esther Smith of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. Esther had paid $500.00 for a miniature dachshund from Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey in July 2008 that died 10 hours after the transaction from a Digby area couple. Ms. Smith purchased this dog on Kijiji.ca, as well as the many other families who became victims to the Benoit / Bailey puppy broker operation. Ms. Smith says “my main objective is to educate the public in the safest and most humane way to purchase or adopt a dog.” Ms. Smith also said “People are still going on websites like Kijiji.ca and buying puppies from puppy mills and brokerage operations.” “A lot of good, responsible breeders can be found on the online classified site, but there are still a few puppy mill operations and brokerage services that remain in business because of the ability to make quick, fast cash sales – sometimes in parking lots,” smith said. Smith purchased her puppy in the McDonald’s parking lot in Windsor, NS and stated “If someone wants to delivery the puppy and insists on it – something is wrong. Responsible breeders should welcome you into their home and provide veterinarian references – I just wished I had done that myself.”
Ms. Smith and some of her group members have lobbied the Ebay owned company Kijiji for a very long time now. “It has been 7 months now, and we have still not received a reply.” In fact Ms. Smith took it upon herself to place warnings in Kijiji hoping to prevent any further sales of sick or dying puppies. Ms. Smith whom continued to post warnings on a weekly basis, found herself banned from the website in late October. “ I don’t know why they banned me, I am trying to save people from going through the same hurt and pain I feel everyday after finding my cinni girl dead” said smith.
Ms. Smith and her group are more than thrilled to have classified businesses on their side. “It isn’t just golistings.com who has assisted us, but others like the Bargain Hunter who have fully cooperated as well and now monitor their pet categories more carefully.” “If only Kijiji would listen, respond, reason or agree – I know I could prevent puppy mills and brokers from reaching out to potential buyers who may aid puppy mills and brokers with cash sales, which keep them in business.”
The Facebook group will continue to lobby Kijiji.ca to change their pet classifieds, however many group members feel they are on the road to nowhere. They are very thankful for the cooperation of many Maritime classified businesses, and are also very pleased with the new animal cruelty charges laid against Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey of the Digby area.
For media interviews or further information, please contact Scott Saunders at shutherdown@ns.sympatico.ca
Facebook Group Successful in Lobbying Online Classifieds Company to halt sale of dogs
An online classified website has halted the sale of dogs on their entire website currently serving 7 major cities in Canada. Unlike Kijiji.ca, golistings.com remained open minded during the negotiations with the Facebook group. Owner / operator of golistings.com, Tom Piasecki said “I like the idea… it does seem logical, I too would not want to see animal cruelty” and also asked the group if they had “Any other thoughts or ideas for improvement.” Mr. Piasecki, who resides in Ontario, felt the group had a valid cause for concern, and removed the “Dogs For sale” category from the classified site immediately after negotiations ended.
Over the past year a lot of concerns have been raised over the Kijiji.ca website by Maritimers. First by an animal rescue coalition after Kijiji.ca started aiding people to buy and sell dogs / puppies. Kijiji which is owned by Ebay has failed to address anyone’s concerns regarding the sale of dogs in months. Ebay, the owner of Kijiji who operates online auctions does not allow the sale of any live animals and hasn’t for years – though on Kijiji they allow the sale of live animals of any species.
After the sale of very sick, dying puppies to many Maritime families last summer and fall, a Facebook group was created by Esther Smith of Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. Esther had paid $500.00 for a miniature dachshund from Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey in July 2008 that died 10 hours after the transaction from a Digby area couple. Ms. Smith purchased this dog on Kijiji.ca, as well as the many other families who became victims to the Benoit / Bailey puppy broker operation. Ms. Smith says “my main objective is to educate the public in the safest and most humane way to purchase or adopt a dog.” Ms. Smith also said “People are still going on websites like Kijiji.ca and buying puppies from puppy mills and brokerage operations.” “A lot of good, responsible breeders can be found on the online classified site, but there are still a few puppy mill operations and brokerage services that remain in business because of the ability to make quick, fast cash sales – sometimes in parking lots,” smith said. Smith purchased her puppy in the McDonald’s parking lot in Windsor, NS and stated “If someone wants to delivery the puppy and insists on it – something is wrong. Responsible breeders should welcome you into their home and provide veterinarian references – I just wished I had done that myself.”
Ms. Smith and some of her group members have lobbied the Ebay owned company Kijiji for a very long time now. “It has been 7 months now, and we have still not received a reply.” In fact Ms. Smith took it upon herself to place warnings in Kijiji hoping to prevent any further sales of sick or dying puppies. Ms. Smith whom continued to post warnings on a weekly basis, found herself banned from the website in late October. “ I don’t know why they banned me, I am trying to save people from going through the same hurt and pain I feel everyday after finding my cinni girl dead” said smith.
Ms. Smith and her group are more than thrilled to have classified businesses on their side. “It isn’t just golistings.com who has assisted us, but others like the Bargain Hunter who have fully cooperated as well and now monitor their pet categories more carefully.” “If only Kijiji would listen, respond, reason or agree – I know I could prevent puppy mills and brokers from reaching out to potential buyers who may aid puppy mills and brokers with cash sales, which keep them in business.”
The Facebook group will continue to lobby Kijiji.ca to change their pet classifieds, however many group members feel they are on the road to nowhere. They are very thankful for the cooperation of many Maritime classified businesses, and are also very pleased with the new animal cruelty charges laid against Gail Benoit and Dana Bailey of the Digby area.
For media interviews or further information, please contact Scott Saunders at shutherdown@ns.sympatico.c
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