Craigslist pet scheme might be a hoax, police say
MARION COUNTY - Reports of a possible Craigslist scheme involving collecting domestic animals for target practice is now falling off the radar of police, who say they have been unable to confirm such a thing is actually happening.
Over the weekend, the Marion County Sheriff's Office stated that they had been getting calls from folks who said they had posted a pet listing on Craigslist and then been threatened by phone and email. The callers reported that they were told that their pet might be used for target practice, a religious sacrifice or deviant sexual acts.
The phone calls and emails were likely the result of a story about the possibility of something like that happening that has been spreading on social media networks, like Facebook. This is the message that is making the rounds:
On Monday, the sheriff's office said they have been unable to confirm that any such acts are taking place and that this may be a hoax.
The sheriff's office did say that if they do find that someone is using pets from Craigslist for target practice, or for other crimes, that they would definitely take action. However, at this time they are moving away from the investigation.
Although the case is for all intents and purposes closed, folks who have tips that might narrow down whether this is true or not can still contact the Marion County Sheriff's Office:
- Call the tip line - (503) 540-8079 (you can remain anonymous).
- Send an email to Deputy Mark Ferron.
The Oregon Humane Society says whether it's a hoax or not, you should not give away animals for free to strangers. They say there are people who collect pets to sell for medical research, to abuse or to use for training for fighting dogs.
So what can you do? The Humane Society suggests that you charge a small fee, learn more about the potential new owner and meet at the owner's home first. If they don't agree to that, do not give them the animal.
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I read this on Facebook  and thought it was a hoax as did sooo many others asking questions on the persons page who contacted the police as if the person was as close as they said to hear and see the suspects as so claimed,WHY didn't they also write down their plate number? The _ for brains at Peta and their followers have made false claims before to police and I wouldn't put them past doing another.
Two cats got away? Overheard them discussing their source? Come on..
I was once young and found amusement stirring up the "fur-kid" folks as well.
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I've also gotten animals from those ads, they're often the last chance before a dog is put down for being inconvenient.
It has to be true, its on facebook
oh no, how could some one shoot an innocent dog or cat. such a cruel world
Now the headlines are asking if it's a hoax, well, KATU, if it is, the only place I read it was on your website. So maybe some actual fact checking is needed before you post a story about something, then update asking if it's a hoax. Shoddy journalism.
Until  I see something resembling actual, real evidence on this, I'm assuming that this is just another urban legend propagated by gullible people.
Oh my god who would do such a thing.. Wow.. I have found if they will do this to a helpless animal they will do the same to a person when the opportunity arises.. How sick.. I wish I had not read this story..
People people people, before you go off the deep in on this subject, remember this story was on facebook and the internet. The whole stopry could just be a fake, made up by someone playing jokes on the public.
 @onceagain its not fake.Â
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 @steadfastanchor  Do you have some actual evidence that you'd like to share with the rest of us to back up your assertion that it is not fake?
@onceagain And if it's not, then there ARE plenty of places up around the area they are shooting the animals to leave the shooters... if you get my drift.
Some people will do whatever they want to do, until caught that is. Many people seem to feel that laws are for others to abide by. It is amazing at times, and sad other times. Hopefully if it is true, they will catch the individuals and make them realize the error of their ways
The comments are ironic in that they will cry about cat used as target practice but will pork of pig that never left it's cage it was born in and has never seen the sun. Crying because of the sores on it body from constant vaccine injections. Hypocrites one and all
 @DickCheney2016 I disagree that people commenting here would NOT ALSO have a problem with the treatment of the pig you described. I have chosen not to eat pigs and cows, one of my main reasons being the poor treatment of animals in this country, and I am also appalled by this story.
DickCheney2016--T/D
@DickCheney2016 Pork is used for food, not for target practice which serves no other purpose than sadistic pleasure.
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Only a sociopath or a psychopath would not understand that.
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@Carlotta Kiyoshi Haas Dubois @DickCheney2016
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I'm truly sick of this moron's attitude about everything that's posted on here. How do we go about getting rid of him?
 @Tedomatic I am sure dick would like to get rid of everyone who doesn't agree with them as well, typical lib way of thinking
 Who is forcing you to read them?
 @Bewitchin1  @Carlotta @DickCheney2016Â
Why would you want to get rid of somebody, just because you disagree with him?
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You should NEVER advertise a pet for free.  Employees of laboratories LOVE to see dogs or cats or rabbits advertised "free to a good home". You should ALWAYS ask AT LEAST $25.00 as an adoption fee. In addition, you really should check out the address of anyone wanting to relieve you of an animal, via craigslist or any kind of a want ad. If you offer animals for free, you need to realize that that little puppy or kitten will probably end up being cruelly experimented on by a research lab. Please do not give your animals away to anyone.
It's old news that folks who keep large snakes troll the want-ads for free kittens and puppies. Why not this, as well? I don't doubt it could possibly be true.
These POS' would make for excellent target practices.
If these reports turn out to be true, I say let the big cats use them for chasing practice
Urban myth
Absolutely disgusting! The sick minds of some people never cease to amaze me.Â
If this indeed true, I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent.  When someone has a mind this sick.... they aren't any good to society!
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 @Flowergirl If they have no problem killing family pets, they have no problem killing humans. If this story is true, and they people are caught, they should be publicly shamed to no end and sentenced to life in prison without a chance to get out.
Thank you for handling a story that might be real and might be a hoax in such a responsible way. This is an excellent way to cover the information without creating a story out of unverified information. And, I'd like to say, I hope very much that this is not occurring.
@tart of darkness I agree with you. A few days ago, my sister posted this flyer about this. I reported it and my oldest daughter reported it. I honestly hope that it is not true. We had been taking care of a stray cat tht we called Mr. CatDog we called him that because he acted like a dog at time. He was a BIG cat beautiful Siamese mixed with beautiful stripes. This lady was trying to lure him and abnother cat out of the Cul De Sac . I asked her what she was doing and she was all ." oh are hese your cats?" I replied Mr is mine and Mina was my neighbors. She left but not before she replied I loove cats! Mr disappeared a few days later. It saddens me because he would climb on to my middle daughters lap in her wheelchair and sit and purer while she petted him. She is upset that someone catnapped him. It bothers me because we live near Cordon Rd here in Salem. For those who do not know Cordon Road starts most of the farming areas " Country" . I wonder if I was to put Guinea pigs up for free if I could help trap these people? I hope the catch who ever is behind these and put them out in a field and those of us that want target practice can go do it save tax payer dollars, because we bring t he guns and ammo.
Ugh, how disgusting. People are just trying to find a good home for their pet, and the pets end up getting killed instead. Crap like this is why CraigsList gets a bad rep.Â
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Must be some seriously f***ed up people to be shooting cats like that. Absolutely disgusting.Â
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