Yep my mom stroked out about that one too. Oh your precious 3 year old is demanding a dog for a year now. Well, you should certainly give in because I'm sure she'll pitch in and take care of it. Mom loves when people get pets "for the kids" and the kids aren't old enough or motivated enough to care for them for any length of time. As far as being cheap or free, are they going to be able to afford vet care? My vet says that unless people are emotionally AND financially invested in their pet, they are less likely to keep it. How about when the GSD mix knocks over their 3 year old because it's a puppy? I bet it'll end up back on Craigslist as a "must go ASAP" dog. These are people that probably shouldn't have pets or children for that matter. Mom also emails people on there. I think that's another site we should ban her from.

Sammy you sound like one of the few success stories out there. There are numerous others that don't end as well and then they end up on Craigslist as ads saying something to the effect of "We have a toddler and don't have enough time to devote to the dog..." But it's not to say this situation won't work out like yours did. On a slightly different topic, giving pets as gifts or surprises sometimes don't turn out well, either but Ernest T Basset and his Mama are a success story for that, too...

I think the real issue isn't that these people are not worthy of the responcebility of haveing a four legged child but that they need educated on the different breeds and their personalities and behavors. I know lots of pits and chows that would rather lick you than bite you. I think we just need to help educate them and hopefully get one of our four legged freinds a loveing and safe home.

No, it's not a good idea to get a dog just because a toddler has been bugging you to get one. But to be perfectly fair, these might be perfectly lovely people who just might need some education. I have seen far worse posts.

Mom once saw a post on Craigslist where they were getting rid of a bunny because the person's kids wanted a cat instead. What happens to the cat when the kids decide they want a puppy? It really makes me and Mom sad when people don't realize that pets aren't disposable. We're a lifetime commitment! I think that family should only get a dog if they realize they're doing it for EVERYONE in the family, not just the toddler.

Grrrr, Maggs, why did you post this? You knew I was going to get mad about the mean bloodlines thing. I agree with everyone else, you don't get a dog just because someone has been begging you too. My little brother who is 7 got a guinea pig, and he had not been begging, but READING on how to take care of guineas and now he's commited to taking care of her.

Our daughter had been wanting a dachshund since she was 2, or old enough to identify the breed! There was NO WAY we were running out there to get her a dog!! She's now 10 and she adopted her "dream dog" Lola Loo in August. People just don't understand that there is no "low cost" dog. They ALL require vet care reguardless of size and it all adds up. That little kid on Craigs List needs a FurReal Friend from Santa before she needs a real dog.