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DS: Brokers that network dogs?

About two weeks ago my husband found a stray dog, it was around 11:00 PM so he brought her home. It is a young female American pit bull terrier. So the next day in addition to notifying the animal shelters, I placed seven " found" ads, five were online, two print ads in local papers. I just received a phone call from a woman inquiring about the ad I placed for the pit bull puppy "free to good home". Now I'm a bit confused, my ads were placed in the found section for lost and found dogs and never did I use the word "free" or good home. Then she proceeded to warn me about people that go thru the classifieds and get the "free" pits to use as bait dogs or for fighting. She never let me get a word in until I finally had to stop her rambling. As the conversation went on she said she was a broker that networks dogs. But, when I asked her a question there was no confidence in her answers. In fact, when I asked her to read me the ad she was referring too, it was only because of my insistence's that she read me the add or I would hang up that she admitted she never saw it. She said someone else views the ads and notifies her to make the calls. When I asked her who she worked for or with she said she was just a broker "helping" dogs and that she networked 300 pit bulls a day. There was more to it that I will stop here. Her parting words were if the owner does not claim the dog, she would help me place the dog no charge. My question is does anyone know how I would verify that this woman is legit since she is independent? Or just the fact that she " cold calls" for lack of a better term, the classifieds free ads for pit bulls a red flag. And if she's not legit is there any agency that I could turn her into. I realize she hasn't done anything illegal with me, but they might be looking for her in some other investigation of animal cruelty. Just the thought! @Nikkid... Actually Petfinders was the first organization I listed her with, but she may have been abused. She cowards down when I raise my hand to pull my hair back from my face and she has a few scars on her face and two on her legs small that the there. She looked well fed and her coach is shiny and well groomed. I have her name and phone number whether her name is real or not is yet to be seen. Yes I did trace the number and it just comes up as a cell phone in Los Angeles, California and it's prepaid. Initially a red flag went up when I talked to this woman so I wasn't really counting on using her. I still have some time it's not imperative she leave today or tomorrow I just don't want it to go on for months and then of course she would be part of the family then,,,,, lol But are there legitimate brokers that help place dogs? You can be assured this woman will never even see this dog. My feeling is since my ads ran for two weeks they were thinking I was tired of the dog and would just hand her over to get rid of her. I just was not sure if there are legitimate brokers for dogs. If she is really handling 300 pits a day or even just 30 I think I should give the information to animal cruelty to investigate. An officer can contact them about their interest in the dog and pose to be my husband.

Public Comments

1. sounds like some kind of scam. If you need help placing the dog, look for local shelters and rescue by going to www.petfinder.com and contact them directly yourself. I wouldnt trust someone who obviously goes thru internet classifieds to find dogs to "help"
2. Red flags all over the place on this one. Look on petfinder.com for a rescue group in your area for Pit Bulls. Turning this dog over to anyone other than a shelter or legitimate rescue group could endanger this dog.
3. Just by the tone of your question, I can tell you are pretty sure this woman is NOT legit, and you are absolutely correct. She is probably supplying dogs to fighting rings, since it was the pitt that triggered her. Please dont give her the dog. There are many, many pitt rescues all over. Just google and you will find one near you. Dont take it to spca or humane society, there is a good chance it will just be killed there. Pitts are wonderful pets, and there will be someone looking for this one, or there will be someone who will adopt it from a good rescue group. Nice of your husband to take her in, anyway. But really, this whole call sounds just creepy, and I would not ever turn over a dog to somebody creepy. Good luck!
4. I'd say it is a serious red flag. Especially since it sounds like this woman is, as you put it, scanning the ads for pit bulls. In my experience, anyone who is a "broker" with dogs, isn't in it for the love of the dogs. I'd pass on this woman.
5. I've never heard of a broker networking dogs but anything goes nowadays. Be careful! Check with your local SPCA or shelter to see what their opinion is. Did you by chance get a phone number try to trace it. To me that whole thing flashes red flags!! I would stay away from her since she can't give you straight answers. If you are unable to keep the dog I would contact a reputable dog rescue and ask them for their help in placing her. Good luck. .
6. This is very, very true. People will take free dogs and use them as pit bull bait, as fighting dogs themselves, or even sell them to laboratories for animal testing.
7. I think you should call the authorities and give them all of this info, including her name and the phone number. I am sure your local police department has a team that investigates dog fighting, and your info could be very useful to them. Who knows? You could be responsible for some arrests!
8. I would NEVER place an animal with a random stranger claiming to be a "broker". The ONLY place I would place an animal with would be a rescue that I felt comfortable with. Luckily I have many ins with local shelters and such so I know the good and the bad. Bait dogs are not used like the AR freaks will have anyone think.