If you’re looking to rehome a companion animal, think twice before using Craigslist, as recent animal cruelty cases show how this can lead to the torture and abuse of innocent dogs, cats, and other pets.
“Experience has shown us that online ads for free dogs and cats are magnets for animal abusers and killers,” said PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch in a press release. “PETA is warning anyone who cares about animals to stay away from Craigslist and never give animals away to strangers on trust—lives depend on it.”
In July, the FBI arrested a 19-year-old Indiana woman, Krystal Scott, for the brutal hanging, skinning and maiming of cats and dogs she bought on Craigslist for sickening ‘animal crush’ videos, which she posted on social media throughout May and June, according to authorities.
In crush videos, animals are horrifyingly tortured and killed via crushing, burning, suffocating, drowning, impaling, and more. The footage is then shared online as a sick form of pleasure for those who view it.
The Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010 made the creation and distribution of these videos a federal crime, and under 2019’s Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, the violent acts themselves can be prosecuted.
Scott’s case is only one of numerous cruelty cases involving the sale of animals on Craigslist. For example, in January, an Iowa woman who was arrested for beating her dog bought another one on Craigslist the day after her arrest. In 2019, a California man allegedly burned, starved and shot cats he got from Craigslist, leading to his arrest after 10 animals were found dead on his property.
When rehoming animals, please seek out friends and acquaintances before complete strangers, thoroughly vet potential adopters, and ensure all pets are microchipped and spayed or neutered first.
In addition, using services like Adopt-A-Pet’s rehoming tool is safer than Craigslist, according to the Animal Humane Society.
On the flip side, those looking for a new furry friend should avoid finding him or her through Craigslist. Various news outlets, like WJAR in Rhode Island and New Jersey 101.5, have reported instances of unscrupulous dealers selling sick and mistreated animals.
SIGN: Justice for Kitten Tortured and Killed for ‘Animal Crush’ Video

How can anyone make a family friendly commenting human garbage like the people who do it and the creeps who buy it?
All Animal Abusers and killers of innocent helpless Animals Dogs Puppies Cats and Kittens deserves the death penalty. Put Special Forces to locate All Animal Abusers and killers and sentence them to the death penalty.
All Animal Abusers and killers of innocent helpless Animals Dogs Puppies Cats and Kittens deserves the death penalty. Put Special Forces to locate All Animal Abusers and killers and sentence them to the death penalty.
Yea, for sure there are a lot of sicko’s out there.
There are some real evil people out there. They need to be vetted properly to ensure they are going to a safe home.
There are some real evil people out there. They need to be vetted properly to ensure they are going to a safe home.
There are some real evil people out there. They need to be vetted properly to ensure they are going to a safe home.
The subhuman monsters that commit these evil acts should all be in jail for the rest of their miserable lives! And so should the other subhuman monsters that get pleasure from watching these horrors! The world can only be better when only human beings and animal beings are allowed to walk the earth. Keep the subhuman monsters locked up. Treat them humanely and with mercy but DON’T let them out because they ARE NOT humane or merciful to the rest of us!
JUSTICE FOR KITTEN TORTURED AND KILLED FOR “ANIMAL CRUSH” VIDEO.
NEVER, NEVER GIVE YOUR ANIMALS TO CRAIGS LIST!!! YOU ARE JUST SENDING THEM TO THEIR DEATH!!!
Give the animals you cannot care for to a reputable agency. CraigsList or any other list that advertises online
harbors freaks, killers, and the insane.
Gee, here’s an idea: since Craigslist has no filter, it should be banned from listing ads for animal sales or giveaways.
Please keeps peaceful and family friendly.
This practice of torture n killing of animals is totally inhuman n is against the nature of loving human beings. Something vitally important is missing in these people!
IF you can’t keep an animal, please do the right thing and take it to a shelter.
It might be a hard thing for you to do, but please don’t think, “Out of sight – out of mind”.
You could be sending an innocent animal to a horrible death.
You ARE responsible for the welfare of these kittens, puppies, cats and dogs.
Craigslist is not the answer!
Do the right thing – evil walks our streets and YOU can stop some of it!
Such mentally sick Blood thirsty cruel people should be locked up & provide some treatments. PLEASE NEVER EVER ALLOW THOSE KILLERS TO WALK THE STREETS FOR THE LONGEST TIME. These blood thirst is a addiction. It is not something any Judge should think would easily go away with the time. NO. IT WONT. THESE INDIVIDUALS WILL MURDER MORE & MORE IN THEIR LIFE TIME. It is a life time mental sickness. PLEASE LOCK THEM UP. NO QUESTIONS TO ASK. PROTECT THE VULNERABLE ANIMALS & THE HUMANS.
“Free to a good home” are an abuser’s five favorite words. If you must part with an animal and can’t find a responsible home for her yourself, do the humane thing and take the animal to an open-door shelter where she will be safe, cared for, and have a chance at finding a loving home.
I have a bumper sticker on my car stating” don’t give pets on craigslist, you may send them to their death”
I certainly hope that it brings awareness to some as many told me they approved when they look at the sticker.
Whenever I see those ads on my local Craigslist I contact the poster and tell that what could happen to their animal and direct them to local rescues and shelters. I don’t know if any of them heed my advice since most never respond, but I have to try.
WHY THIS KIND OF VIDEOS ARE PERMIT TO SEE FOR EVERYBODY AND NOT AGAINST THE LAW? AND PEOPLE WHO DID THAT SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME….
I agree with you 100%!! These are atrocities committed against living beings and should be against the law just as videos that would show atrocities against human beings! Animals feel pain and fear too!