Craigslist - Duke Deserves Better!
The stories broke my heart.
A man who tortured puppies in West Virginia; a woman who killed pets in Texas; people pretending to be the owners of lost dogs, claiming them to use as bait to train dogs to fight. So many sad stories of abused and neglected pets - all with Craigslist in common. Help me ask Craigslist to help protect our pets.
Craigslist is often used as a tool by those seeking to adopt or rehome a pet - and can lead to animals finding their forever home. Unfortunately, the website has also facilitated horrific instances of animal abuse.
The sweet little pit bull in the photo above is named Duke, and after being given to a new home via a Craigslist ad, was found being savagely beaten and kicked by a troubled teenager. Thankfully, a good Samaritan called in the pet abuse, and Duke has now found a caring home, but his limp will be a reminder of his horror story forever.
Sites such as Pet-Abuse.com, the Humane Society, and Aid Animals have wonderful, simple guides for rehoming an animal, and my petition urges Craigslist to partner with these animal advocates to ensure everyone placing an ad in their community/pets pages sees useful tips to keep their pets safe.
Sign my petition, and let's convince Craigslist to help educate pet owners, and take a simple step to help our pets!
'It was like a horror movie': Man collected animals from Craigslist to torture
David Williford
Screenshot/KING 5
Animal control officers arrested an Olympia, Washington man on Friday after discovering found dozens of animals, both dead and alive, in his blood-splattered home.
KOMO 4 News reported yesterday that David Williford was charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty in a case that the Thurston County Prosecutor is calling "the worst case of animal abuse she's ever seen." Animal control officers have accused Williford of collecting animals from Craigslist and then starving, torturing, and consuming them.
Williford's home contained dozens of abused animals, including dogs, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. According to Deputy Prosecutor Christen Anton Peters, the home was "like a scene from a horror movie, complete with blood spatters, filth and carcasses."
KING 5 News reported yesterday that the home on Cooper Point Road in Olympia contained more than 20 dead animals, some of which were hanging from the walls. During the investigation, authorities stated that they rescued dozens of additional animals who survived the ordeal, but they were "desperate for food and water."
Earlier this month, officials seized dog rabbits, two dogs, and three rats from his home.
Williford's arrest came after a veterinarian's discovery that one of the deceased guinea pigs had been killed by blunt force trauma. The veterinarian determined that this animal had "experienced undue suffering" in its death.
According to investigators, Williford told the animals' former owners that he "wanted to rescue" their pets - but Craigslist is no place to put your animals. The investigators stated that Williford told them that he actually intended to eat the animals, and while Williford's attorney called the home "simply an unsanitary slaughterhouse," animal control officers could not find evidence of anyone consuming the animals.
Deputy Prosecutor Peters stated:
I've seen many cases of animal cruelty in my career as a prosecutor. This is clearly the most disturbing case that I have ever reviewed."
Williford, who has no prior convictions, is charged with six counts of animal abuse in the first degree and six counts of animal abuse in the second degree. He is being held on $150,000 bail at the Thurston County Jail.
The surviving dogs who were taken from Williford's home have found new homes and the rats and rabbits should be available for adoption in March. Updates to this story will be posted as they occur.
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