Is this rude?

[savannah]

I have been searching classified ads, in the hopes of finding a suitable dog to rescue (along with petfinder etc.). Anyways, i ALWAYS run into ads of "free to good home" and most of the time, they are purebred dogs. I visit petfinder, and i see so many rescues, that would find great homes for these "free to good home" dogs. Is it rude to call the owner, and let them know of certain rescues they can contact, or even for me to pick the dog up and give to a rescue? It breaks my heart to think of where these "free to good home" dogs end up going.
For example, this week alone i have seen: Maltese, Chihuahua, Shis Tzu

Should i just mind my own business?

[Lucky Rescue]

It would be wonderful if you did that! Many people are truly not aware of the dangers of giving pets away for free and would be grateful to you.

Of course, others just couldn't care less and just want to dump the animal. But if you can save one poor dog from a horrible fate, you will have done something great!

You can let them know their dogs could easily end up at a research lab, or being bred to death at a puppy mill.

[savannah]

Lucky Rescue, as you are a rescue, do you know of any rescues that easily take in dogs? I just don't know what the process is to surrender a dog, and maybe they are picky over the kind of dog the rescue etc.
Right now, i really want to call the owner of the maltese, as she is local, and give her a contact name/number and explain to her, but i don't know of any that would take her in. I see them on Petfinder, but i don't just want to assume that they would be okay with taking in another dog.

[amber416]

Originally Posted by savannah

Should i just mind my own business?

ahh, i often wonder this myself. I have been known to call people whose ad i have seen in the paper offering "free to good home" and explain the dangers of this to them. I try and mind my own business but there are times i cannot help myself and I tell myself i am minding the dog's business, something nobody else in the animal's life appears to be doing. I have had a couple of people very...unappreciative of my nosiness (and i can't say i blame them), but i have also had long conversations with some people who really think they are doing everything right and do have as good of intentions as anyone can have for rehoming a pet. They are thankful for the advice/education. I think it's a personal judgement call. If you feel comfortable doing it, do it. I personally don't think it's rude, but you will just have to be ready to deal with the possibility that some will.

[Lucky Rescue]

Most rescues will not take pets that people are dumping for frivolous reasons. They are too busy trying to save the lives of stray animals, or ones who are going to their deaths in shelters. If they took owner turn ins, they would be unable to help the others.

BUT, they can do what we do, and that is to list the animal on a Petfinder site, and help the owner with adoption contracts etc.

Some rescues will take animals if owners are going to send them to a shelter, and it helps if the animal is easy to place, like a small purebred.

Where are you?

[savannah]

I live in Ontario, in the gta.

I thought that perhaps rescues would not take in any animal, and it does make sense (what you posted). I wish the public knew, even if just a little, about the lives of the "free to good home" pets. If i were rich, i would take them all in, and find them good homes!

Thank you for your responses