A quick search for cats on the Finn.no marketplace shows that several animals are given away for free.
That causes Animal Protection Norway Bergen and Hordaland to react.
In a post on Facebook, they issue a warning to anyone considering rehoming their animals. In addition, they give Finn.no harsh criticism for how they practice “selling” animals.
– Such advertisements can attract people who may not be able to afford to have animals. Many people get a cat on impulse. There is a great danger that cats will be dumped when people are fed up, says general manager of Animal Protection Norway Bergen and Hordaland, Charlotte Graff.
THINK ABOUT IT: Charlotte Graff asks people to think twice about doing the necessary research before acquiring or rehoming a pet. – We know many people are “collectors” of cats who have been denied activity, but troll Finn to get a new animal. Photo: Private
Tells Finn to take action
They are now calling for Finn.no to take action to ensure that more animals go to safe and good homes.
– We see that many other things on Finn have more value than living beings. Therefore, we believe that it should not be allowed to give the animals away for free. Stricter requirements must be placed on those who accept animals, preferably criteria and a relocation fee, says Graff to TV 2.
Just before Christmas, Graff discovered that someone had left a 15-week-old cat outside the organization’s premises. She thinks this cat was obtained through Finn.no.
– It was cold and sour weather. The cat howled when it was discovered. It is very sad. If people accept animals, you must ensure that they are well looked after, she tells TV 2.
Charlotte Graff in Bergen asks people to think carefully before getting an animal.
– It is an obligation that one undertakes for at least 15 years in the future. People must be able to afford to have a cat in terms of proper feed and veterinary services, she says to TV 2.
Says many forget the costs
That all animals have a price is an important step to ensure good animal owners, says general manager of Animal Protection Norway and veterinarian Åshild Roaldset.
– We at Animal Protection Norway think it is very nice that animals have a price, because it costs money to own the animal. We believe animal husbandry will improve when animals are not given away for free, says Roaldset.
ID MARKING: Åshild Roaldseth, general manager of Animal Protection Norway, believes that ID marking is one of the most important measures to ensure animals’ rights. Photo: Tom Rune Orset/TV 2
Requiring a sum for animals to be relocated does not solve all problems, however.
– We take over hundreds of animals every year from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the police who have been deprived of their owners due to gross water management or mistreatment, says Roaldset.
– You do not ensure that the animal comes to a safe home if the new owner has to pay for the animal. But those who are willing to pay for the animal are probably better prepared to take care of the animal and realize that having an animal comes with a cost.
She adds that it is also important that the animal is ID marked.
Receives many messages of concern
The animal welfare organization Noah says price can be a false sense of security.
– It is not the case that a monetary transaction is necessarily a guarantee that you will get a good home for the animal, says Siri Martinsen, manager of Noah to TV 2.
Noah, who works to strengthen animal rights, says “given away” animals can end up as food.
– In some cases, for example, hamsters and rabbits that are given away can be used to feed reptiles. In such cases, price can be a threshold.
She says that the organization often receives messages of concern about advertisements on Finn.
– Unfortunately, it is common for advertisements that reveal irresponsibility. Many react and speak up if they see advertisements that testify to irresponsible breeding, that the animal is treated in an irresponsible way or an unethical attitude where the owner threatens to kill the animal, says Martinsen to TV 2.
AGREE: Siri Martinsen, manager of Noah, agrees that animals that are to be advertised are thrown away and must be chip-tagged. Photo: Gorm Røseth / TV 2
Finn: – Not black and white
According to Finn.no, few animals are given away compared to animals that are sold.
– In the “give away” category, it is mostly equipment for animals that is posted and the vast majority of animals are in the “for sale” category, says head of consumer safety, Geir Petter Gjefsen.
He says that relocation does not have a separate category at Finn.
– We see that the “given away” category is used for this. It is often cats and rodents that are the most numerous, says Gjefsen.
– Why is it allowed to give away animals for free at Finn?
– This is a difficult issue which is not necessarily completely black and white. There will also be a consideration of what happens if no one wants an animal that costs money to relocate. We do not necessarily believe that a restriction on the cost of the animal will ensure that all animals get the home they deserve.
He points out that from October 2021 it became mandatory to be BankID verified to advertise dogs and cats.
– It is nevertheless important to point out that a BankID verification is not a guarantee that someone is suitable to have animals, or that one is not prohibited from having animals, says Glomlien.
NO REGISTRY: Geir Petter Gjefsen says Finn does not have access to any register of people who are not allowed to have animals, but that Finn cooperates with the police and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. Photo: Caroline Roka / Finn
Giving away rabbits
Jeanett Svendsen is among several who choose to give away their animals at Finn. In an advertisement, she writes that she has to get rid of three rabbits.
– We have ended up in a situation where we have more animals than we have room for and the capacity to look after, she says to TV 2.
She says that she is actually against giving away animals on platforms like Finn.
– But due to the situation we are in, it is urgent to relocate them, she says to TV 2.
RABBITS GIVE AWAY: According to the advertisement, these rabbits are only given away to those who are very fond of animals, and overly concerned with animal welfare. Photo: Screenshot
Comes with tips
If you are looking to either relocate your pet, or are looking for a new family friend, Åshild Roaldset has some good tips.
Among other things, she recommends following the Animal Protection Norway’s advertisements on Finn.no.
– If you are unsure before buying an animal, you can possibly become a foster home for one of the Norwegian Animal Protection’s local branches to try to see how it goes for a period of time, says Roaldset.
If, on the other hand, you are going to relocate your pet for various reasons, Roaldset says that it is wise to talk together.
– It is important that the seller sits down with the buyer to inform them about what it means to have an animal and what care the animal requires, she says.
Jeanett Svendsen, who will be giving away the rabbits, says she is extremely careful that the pets go to homes with animal-loving people, who are as concerned about animal welfare as she is.
– Those who are interested must give me a lot of information about how they plan to take care of the animals. I say no if I think that the three rabbits do not get optimal living conditions, says Svendsen to TV 2.
