We all know Craigslist, the website where people can post local classifieds and participate in community forums—it’s a great place to find a job, an apartment, a used car, sometimes even a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Unfortunately, animals are being given away to anyone who wants them via “free to a good home” ads on Craigslist. PETA has written to Craigslist about the many animals who are neglected and abused—and sometimes even killed—after being obtained through these ads. In 2005, we requested that Craigslist implement a policy prohibiting “free to a good home” ads, and Craigslist posted a mild warning about giving away animals via its website. However, in light of an endless string of cruelty cases involving extreme suffering of animals obtained through the website, PETA has renewed its reasonable request that Craigslist ban these ads.

Just last year, a New Bedford, Connecticut, couple was arrested on charges of animal abuse after officials found over 20 dead animals in their apartment and over 20 more malnourished animals living in filth; willful animal torture charges were filed against a man in Reno, Nevada, who dismembered and killed five dogs in a hotel room while under the influence of methamphetamine; an Athens, Georgia, man was charged with 22 counts of cruelty to animals after admitting to procuring and killing kittens because he was “angry at the world”; and a man in Olympia, Washington, was arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges after authorities discovered dozens of tortured, starved, and dead animals in his home whom he claimed he had obtained in order to eat. In each situation, the animals were reportedly acquired via ads posted on Craigslist.

Craigslist is in a position to help prevent the suffering of animals like these. Please urge Craigslist to do the right thing and immediately implement a policy prohibiting “free to a good home” ads.