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SALT LAKE CITY — KSL Classifieds is a useful tool for folks looking to sell items they no longer use or need as well as those looking to score something they've had their eyes on. The game changes, however, when pets are being sold.
Instead of an old couch or used vehicle, these are actual living, breathing creatures.
The team at KSL Classifieds said it realized there was substantial room to improve, and is doing so by making changes to its pet section to better protect future furry friends through initiatives that will crack down on irresponsible breeders and sellers.
"The traditional KSL Classifieds model encouraged backyard breeding and allowed puppy runners (individuals who import puppy mills dogs from other states to sell for profit in Utah) to operate unabated," said Guinnevere Shuster, associate director of marketing and communications for the Utah Humane Society. "We received dozens of complaints each month regarding individuals being scammed by fake listings or sold very sick pets that required thousands of dollars in veterinary care. Because the listings were anonymized, there has been no recourse for the human or animal victims in these situations."
Protecting pets
One of the most substantial changes KSL Classifieds will make is attaching a $15 listing fee to all dog listings starting in late 2022. By attaching the fee to all dog listings, KSL Classifieds is encouraging the user who creates the listing to have a more vested interest in the well-being of the animal and where it ultimately ends up.
The fee is for dogs specifically, because that's where KSL Classifieds saw the most activity in the pet section and therefore, the most suspicious activity.
Additionally, the listing fee will reduce instances of repetitive or irrelevant listings to help KSL Classifieds users find dogs effectively and in turn, help more dogs find a safe and loving home.
"Charging for pet listings and setting a maximum price for a pet will hopefully help filter out some of the really bad actors that use KSL Classifieds as a way to skirt regulations and defraud individuals looking to add a pet to their family," Shuster said.
Payments for the listing fee can be made using a credit card when creating a listing. As with other listings, a dog listing will have a set expiration date. Sellers will need to create a new listing if they wish to keep their dog visible on KSL Classifieds after the listing's expiration date, in which case they will pay a new $15 fee.
In embarking on a revamp of the pet section, KSL Classifieds enlisted the help and expertise of those who fight every day for the well-being of animals: The Utah Humane Society and Best Friends Animal Society.
Around 355,000 animals were killed in shelters in 2021, an increase from the number killed in 2020, according to Best Friends Animal Society.
"As long as healthy and treatable pets are losing their lives simply because they don't have a safe place to call home, we encourage everyone looking to obtain a pet to adopt from a shelter or rescue group," said Elizabeth Oreck, national manager of puppy mill initiatives for Best Friends Animal Society.
"We appreciate KSL Classifieds' changes to their site and applaud their commitment to making their pet classifieds safer and more responsible for pets and consumers, for supporting the adoption of homeless pets, and for providing educational resources so that anyone looking to obtain a pet can make the most informed decision possible," Oreck said.
Beyond just enlisting the help of animal welfare groups, KSL Classifieds will be donating a portion of every dog listing fee to local shelters and animal rights groups, such as Best Friends Animal Society and the Utah Humane Society.
"It has been eye-opening as we've worked with thought leaders on changes to make our pet section safer for the animals, buyers and sellers on our platform. I've become passionate about educating our audience on these issues and sincerely hope we can positively impact the pets community with our new site and policy changes," said Tiffany Rhodes, senior marketing manager for KSL Classifieds.
For more resources and information surrounding the work KSL Classifieds is doing to improve animal welfare, click here.
