Editorial: Allow shelter animals on eBay

Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005 | 7:58 a.m.

The online auction site eBay this week canceled a plan to allow the listing of live pets after receiving more than 2,000 feedbacks, most of which were negative. We have a mixed reaction to eBay's action and the feedbacks.

In one sense, that many feedbacks, generated in about two days, was encouraging, as most of them were expressing concern for the animals' well-being. We support all efforts to end animal cruelty and neglect.

In another sense, though, the feedbacks and the resulting eBay decision represent a missed opportunity.

With the exception of fish and snails, eBay prohibits the listing of live animals on its site. A new plan, however, announced by eBay last Friday, would have created a new classified section on the site. Breeders would have been able to advertise their pets for sale, paying only a listing fee. Animal shelters would have been able to advertise their adoptable pets for free.

Most of the feedbacks came from people concerned that eBay's plan would just give operators of puppy mills another venue for generating profits. Puppy mills are breeding operations that do not adhere to standards set forth by the American Kennel Club or other reputable organizations. They value the animals only for the sales they generate. No value is attached to the breeding animals or any of the unwanted newborns. Extremely inhumane conditions, amounting to cruelty, abound.

It would be difficult for eBay, because of the abundance of puppy mills, to distinguish between a legitimate breeder and a cruel opportunist. The potential for abuse of the privilege would be unacceptably high. Additionally, for-profit breeders are able to afford advertising in other venues and most are prospering without eBay.

In the case of nonprofit animal shelters, however, advertising budgets, if they even have them, are limited. Shelters depend on word-of-mouth, free publicity provided by local media outlets and, in some cases, Web sites they have set up on their own. But that's never enough, as can be learned from the numbers of adoptable animals that have to be euthanized each year.

As most shelters are affiliated with local governments, or are registered with state governments as nonprofit organizations, it wouldn't be too difficult for eBay staff to review documents that would verify their legitimacy. We believe eBay should be open to giving free listings to shelters, at least as a pilot project. It would be a fabulous public service, one that would have the potential of finding loving homes for thousands of pets facing euthanasia.