'Dog-Flipping:' Animal Activists Fight Selling Of Adopted Pets

Some looking to make a quick buck are willing to go so far as to adopt a dog in need and sell it to the highest online bidder.

Animal experts are calling the concept "dog-flipping" and say the cruel practice of adopting a free pup only to turn around and sell it is on the rise, WMC reports.

These "dog-flippers" are posing as feasible adopters, but then go on to just pack them in at home with the other pooches they're looking to sell.

"There are some predatory people out there who will take your dog in, say they are going to give it a good home," animal rescuer Sarah Clinton told WMC, "and then turn around and sell that dog for $50, $60, a couple of hundred dollars."

But activists and pet owners are catching on to the trend and are working to put a stop to it.

Though Amy Cannon couldn't afford her dog's litter of nine puppies, she spent hundreds of dollars to have them vaccinated and she extensively screened the potential adopters she met on Craigslist and Facebook, according to HLN.

But when the Ohio woman saw that one of the puppies she gave away was posted for sale on Craigslist for $60, she was horrified and immediately rescued him.

Cannon hopes to protect other dogs from similar fates with her Facebook awareness page -- Citizens Against Flipping Dogs, according to WMC.

"I don't think a lot of people in this country have even heard about something like this," Cannon told HLN. "It's one of those hush-hush things."

Comments

[LaRue McCay]

07:37 PM on 01/02/2013

In Las Vegas, NV we have a place claiming to be a resuce doing this. The search for "free dog" ads on CraigsList and then sell them or put them up for adoption. People have found their beloved pets at the Kill shelter after the place ( called Animal Super Friends in Las Vegas, NV ) have taken their pet, or their pet was found on the street. Complaints have been filed. They recently had an "adoption" event, and the dogs where in bad shape, not spayed / neurutered, dirty and scared...

[Chugida]

12:06 AM on 04/03/2013

Is it possible that you could send me more info about this issue with Animal Super Friends? I just gave my chihuahua up for adoption in hopes they would find him a new home. Thanks!

[abcEASYAS]

04:23 PM on 03/28/2012

my local pet store,rescues from the pound every month,and sells them for $300.00
as puppies,also she pays $100 or less to adopt them,so she is flipping
lets get this right,also the so called "humane" society pound is a total loser
they take dogs,strays,fix him,then put them on the floor,if you lose a dog
they don't care..they lie,and sell them at a profit $100 for sale or for "science
they get paid back end or front. don't trust any so called kill shelter. people are greedy
and desperate..and yes people do good things too,just be sure,finding a home for a animal is NOT EASY..its expensive for VET BILLS..so I kinda see everyones point.
so i think its a all around issue. not one sided.

[Jon David]

02:02 PM on 04/02/2012

I do not know where you are from but in Florida the Humane society does not take strays only owner relinqushments, meaning only dogs from the legal owner are taken in for adoption. We do not wan't youre dog and would rather you keep youre pet or rehome them youreself. Please don't spread rumors. The only ones who suffer are the animals when they are dumped instead of being brought to a shelter.

[AnneBoleyn1501]

02:39 PM on 03/28/2012

Let me get this straight, the moral is that someone who buys a puppy for $60 is "unworthy", but someone who gets the dog for free is "worthy"? The last time I was at the vet, he insisted I pay him with money and not good intentions.

[DianeRChang]

01:54 PM on 03/28/2012

Cannon, while I understand you clearly did not have bad intentions...a breeding between any two intact dogs is totally possible. Having worked in dog rescue for about the past year, you'll be amazed at how many "oops litters" contribute to the dog overpopulation problem. The only way around it is to SPAY AND NEUTER. Furthermore, Craigslist is no place to find a home for your puppies. Did you perform home checks? Did you ask for references? You could have worked through a legitimate 501(c)3 rescue to re-home your puppies. They charge an adoption fee (which helps pay for their expenses and is also used to help the rescue group continue rescuing more dogs, some with greater medical issues). Therefore, making the "flip" almost impossible.

[cannonBAM]

06:58 PM on 03/27/2012

Hi everyone-

Toni Dean- We were not trying to breed our animals. It was an accident or oops litter. We did not think it was physically possible. If you want to read the entire story, so you understand all of the details either go to our fb page "Citizens Against Flipping Dogs" or go to our CAFD website. You are missing a big part of the story actually.

[MIMom]

09:13 PM on 03/27/2012

Don't worry about it. I think you did the responsible thing after it happened. You could have not given them any care at all.

[DSevere]

04:30 PM on 03/27/2012

If they're getting the dogs out of kill shelters, where they only have a week or so to live, it's creepy and greedy but maybe it gives the dogs a better shot at survival. If they're getting them from no kill rescues, it's awful.

[viciousvirago]

12:43 PM on 03/27/2012

I strongly believe in animal rights, but not going to Hollywood extremes and buying their lap dogs diamond-encrusted collars.

You do not harm: animals, elderly, handicapped or children. They cannot fight back. As to these flippers, I hope what goes around comes around and they get horribly bitten.

[Toni Dean]

11:53 AM on 03/27/2012

Unless you can afford to keep every puppy from a litter for their life, Amy Cannon, you should not be breeding. Especially not cross-breeds. There is no guarantee that a breeder will be able to find homes for every puppy they breed and breeders need to be held accountable for their actions. Giving away puppies really encourages "puppy flipping". It certainly adds to the bottom line profit of these "people".
Having said that, I have real appreciation of the fact that you are working to bring this issue to our attention.

[Carla van der Meer]

09:20 PM on 03/26/2012

Sad that some sub humans will stop at nothing to make a buck. I thought house flipping was bordering on sleazy, but this takes the cake.

[Carla van der Meer]

02:09 PM on 03/27/2012

How could you hate dogs? After all they do for people, asking only for love and a little food in return.

[Ldiddy]

03:14 PM on 03/27/2012

Do the world a favor, just get off the internet.